Advertisement

Premier League: 5 talking points from Tottenham's 4-0 home win over Stoke

  1. Mauricio Pochettino picks an unchanged line-up and Spurs’ aggressive approach pays off

Tottenham
Tottenham

Tottenham had played three times in cup competitions while Stoke had been resting during the preceding fortnight – and Spurs’ manager had picked strong line-ups in each of those games.

Indeed, Pochettino selected his best available line-up for the Europa League tie against Gent at Wembley on Thursday – and his side played for 50 minutes with 10 men. Nonetheless, he sent his strongest side back out onto the park against the Potters today.

It made sense. Spurs’ schedule is about to get a lot easier, with only one game per week before the international break at the end of March – and Pochettino, therefore asked his most trusted men for one more big effort.

It seemed likely that Spurs’ midweek exertions would catch up with them in the second half. The fear before the match was that the game would be tight and goalless around the hour-mark and that a tiring Spurs side would have to push forward against their fresher visitors.

A quick start was crucial. Pochettino picked the team that was best equipped to get it and he got his reward. In fact, the first half could not have gone any better. Spurs broke the deadlock in the 14th minute and immediately began pushing for a second goal.

Some sides might have slowed the tempo down and prioritised careful possession. Indeed, at times, it felt like the home side needed to do just that.

While Spurs were mostly on the front foot, Stoke fashioned a couple of good chances, with Hugo Lloris saving from ex-Spurs striker Peter Crouch at close range and the Potters then engineering a three v one situation on the counter-attack.

It seemed bizarre that the visitors should be allowed to get into that position, given they were chasing the game, but Tottenham’s aggressive approach paid off and they went on to score three more times before the interval.

Typically, their devastating display came just three days after their wasteful outing against Gent, when they had only managed to get three of their 25 shots on target. If only they had spread the goals around a bit more evenly!

2. Harry Kane hits another treble

Harry Kane
Harry Kane

Tottenham’s striker certainly had his shooting boots on today. After a disappointing night against Gent, the 23-year-old produced two clinical finishes against Stoke, sending an angled right-footed drive into the bottom left corner before meeting Eriksen’s corner with a sweet left-footed volley that flew into the same part of the net.

A deflected free kick then gave Kane his second hat-trick in consecutive weekends after his treble at Fulham in last Sunday’s FA Cup tie – and his third in nine games after his three strikes against West Bromwich Albion last month.

The homegrown forward has become the first Tottenham player since Jimmy Greaves to score 20 goals in three consecutive seasons – and he is now the joint leading scorer in the Premier League after drawing level with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, who is due to visit White Hart Lane next Sunday.

3. Dele Alli enjoys a moment of redemption after his costly dismissal

Dele Alli
Dele Alli

The youngster has been widely and deservedly criticised after his horrible tackle on Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere on Thursday night, which was punished with a straight card and was a key factor in Spurs’ Europa League elimination.

However, Tottenham’s fans showed their support for Alli from the start, singing his name – and Kane gave his team-mate an even bigger boost at the end of the first half.

The striker had already scored his treble when he raced away down the right side and, instead of seeking to add to his own goal tally, he unselfishly crossed for Alli, who netted for the first time in seven games.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes will be glad to see the back of the Tottenham pair for another season. Spurs have now beaten the Potters 4-0 in each of the last three meetings, and Kane and Alli have scored 10 of the 12 goals.

4. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen both leave the pitch with injuries

Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld goes off injured
Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld goes off injured

The only bad news for Tottenham on an otherwise triumphant day was the fact that their imperious Belgian centre-backs both had to be substituted in the second half.

They did not seem to be in too much discomfort as they walked off the field and their withdrawals may have been precautionary.

However, it remains to be seen how serious the problems are and whether they will be fit to face their countryman Lukaku next weekend.

5. Tottenham can build momentum with a run of games at White Hart Lane

Tottenham
Tottenham

Spurs had only won one of their previous four matches before today’s clash – but all of them had been away from the Lane, including Thursday’s game against Gent, which was technically a ‘home’ match but was played at Wembley.

The Lilywhites remain formidable in N17 though. This was their 10th victory in a row in Tottenham and their eighth in the Premier League, equalling a club record.

They have now scored 30 top-flight goals at the Lane this season and conceded just five, while they are yet to taste defeat in any competition here this term.

An unbeaten campaign on home turf remains a possibility, in what is expected to be the last season at the stadium.

Usefully, Spurs have now another three successive home games against Everton, Millwall and Southampton in the Premier League and FA Cup.

If they can keep producing performances like this, they should be in a good position at the start of April.

Follow me on Twitter @BenPearceSpurs and visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BenPearceSpurs/