Tottenham are set to host Stoke City today in their home debut of the 2015/16 English Premier League season. Stoke took the double over Spurs last season including a 2-1 win in this corresponding fixture last November. Mauricio Pochettino and company will be itching to redeem themselves starting with today’s match.
We’ll be adding updates to this page as they come in, including team news and snap reactions at halftime and fulltime. Please feel free to contribute your views in the comments!
COYS!
Next: Team News
TEAM NEWS
Both teams have announced their starting XI.
Tottenham:
#THFC team: Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Mason; Chadli, Dembele, Eriksen; Kane #COYShttps://t.co/eqiGNmpHkZ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 15, 2015
The biggest news here is that Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris returns to the lineup in goal. The French international keeper suffered a broke wrist in the offseason and thus missed Tottenham’s opener against Manchester United last week.
Eric Dier holds his position at defensive midfield, hopefully impressing as much as he did last week against United. Danny Rose evidently hasn’t recovered from the injury that kept him out of last week’s game. Ben Davies takes over at leftback.
Stoke City:
#scfc Starting XI vs Tottenham: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan (c), van Ginkel; Walters, Afellay, Arnautovic; Diouf
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) August 15, 2015
Stoke City also have a surprise return to fitness in leftback Erik Pieters. His inclusion allows Marc Muniesa to slide back into his favored position at centre-back. Ahead of them the team remains mostly unchanged since their 1-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend. Marko Arnautovic is the only exception here; he comes in for Charlie Adam. Perhaps the most notable feature of Stoke City’s lineup is the absence from both the starting XI and bench of new signing Xherdan Shaqiri.
Next: Halftime
HALFTIME
Tottenham have had a truly impressive half of soccer against Stoke City. Much like last week against United, Spurs dominated the game in the opening twenty minutes, denying Stoke possession in general and quality chances in particular. They were rewarded for their efforts by Eric Dier’s goal off a corner in the 19th minute. Stoke improved as the half wore on but couldn’t capitalize off of a misplaced pass by Hugo Lloris or a headed effort by Diouf. Tottenham’s pressing game seems wholly improved from last season.
Mousa Dembélé, Ryan Mason and Dier have been exceptional in the midfield and have been capably assisted in their efforts by Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli dropping back from their forward positions. Chadli scored at the half’s death after a clever reactive play that began with a flick to Ben Davies as the Welshman ran into the box. His cross found Chadli who promptly converted to leave it 2-0 at the half.
Next: Final Whistle
FINAL WHISTLE
A thoroughly disappointing half of soccer from Tottenham. The two goal lead that they took into the break was squandered, first by a penalty converted by Marko Arnautovic and then by Diouf’s header five minutes later. Stoke’s goals came in the final quarter hour of the match after Spurs pressing game began to weaken. Erik Lamela and Nabil Bentaleb came on for Harry Kane and Ryan Mason respectively prior to the goals, but neither improved Spurs chances. The game ended 2-2, leaving Spurs with one point from their opening two games.
There’s much more analysis to be done of the game in the days to come. For now it’s hard not to be discouraged, especially after Spurs started the game in so lively a fashion. Which Spurs team we’ll see in the games to come – the one who dominated the first half or the one that earned the draw – is still very much uncertain.