Spurs welcomed Maddison and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario back into their lineup after three months out with a fractured ankle suffered in November’s 4-0 win over Manchester City.
Ange Postecoglou was also able to include Brennan Johnson summer signing Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie in his matchday squad.
The hosts were actually in better shape than their bedraggled visitors, who were forced to name eight teenagers on their substitutes bench after an injury and illness epidemic swept across United’s training ground at the back end of the week.
Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer were expected absentees, but Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen were also missing from a matchday squad.
United began the game well, with Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho testing Vicario’s shot-stoping ability, but slipped behind when Maddison followed in Lucas Bergvall’s effort and tapped home Andre Onana’s palmed save.
Garnacho inexplicably blazed over the bar just before the half-hour mark and Spurs grew into the game as United’s lack of quality in the decisive moments really began to shine through.
It turned into a bit of a frenetic, end-to-end affair, with neither side able to take the chances afforded to them and Vicario and Onana comfortable with their handling.
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Spurs were able to call upon the likes of Johnson, Pape Sarr, Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma and even Odobert, who returned from a five-month injury lay-off late on, but Amorim made just one change in stoppage-time a nod to the complete lack of experience on his bench.
The win takes Postecoglou’s Spurs up to 12th, above Crystal Palace and Everton, and forces United who were on the receiving end of a Spurs double for the first time in 35 years down to 15th in the process with their 12th loss of what’s turning out to be a disastrous Premie League season.
