Matchday Live: Tottenham v Leicester City
By Ryan Wrenn
Fulltime
Tottenham remain unbeaten in the Premier League, but it’s hard to derive too much satisfaction with that when the team looks as directionless as it did here.
The one goal lead courtesy of Janssen’s penalty at the end of the first half evaporated when Musa managed to beat Walker to a ball just at the beginning of the second half. It was 1-1, and would stay that way through to full-time.
Musa’s goal was the first conceded in open play by Spurs so far this season. It game as an indirect result of a mistake by Wanyama, who headed the ball aimlessly back to his defense, exactly where Vardy was waiting to snatch it up. The England international’s resulting cross found Musa, who converted past Lloris.
It was still early enough that Tottenham could expect to find a way back into the game. Their momentum did not subside much after Musa’s goal, and they looked to be getting closer and closer to once again taking the lead.
It was not to be though. Leicester’s organized midfield and defense blocked shots, cut off dribbles and generally looked up to the task of taking on whatever Tottenham threw at them.
Vertonghen would hit the cross bar with a striker’s header late in the half, but that was as close as Tottenham got but for a couple limp shots on target.
Next: Best Combined XI: Tottenham v Leicester City
Though admittedly the first team is depleted, it is strange that Pochettino resisted turning toward his bench until the 82nd minute. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou looked solid when he came on for Alli, but it simply wasn’t given enough time to influence the game.
This marks Tottenham’s third consecutive draw in the Premier League, and with Arsenal and Manchester City wins their part in the title conversation is slowly slipping.
Stay tuned in the coming days for further analysis, including player ratings and a bit on Pochettino’s tactics.