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Clinical Spurs Top Foxes in Premier League

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Midfield for Spurs

Mauricio Pochettino used the Leicester match as another opportunity to continue to break Oliver Skipp into the first-team. On the afternoon Tottenham got exactly what it needed from its midfield as Spurs maintained enough possession and pushed just enough to outlast the Foxes.

Oliver Skipp – 7

Oliver Skipp continues to show promise – especially for an 18-year-old Academy player. Skipp received his second Premier League start of the season and displayed well enough on the afternoon. While having the least touches of the midfield unit, Skipp did his job and never put Tottenham in a bad place. Oliver needs to continue to work to move the ball just a tad quicker when he gets it, as a somewhat elongated passing motion can give defenders at this level that split-second, they need. Skipp also needs to continue to work moving without the ball giving his teammates better angles to his feet. Not that different than Harry Winks a few years ago and certainly not asked to do as much Oliver Skipp continues to perform good enough and show a lot of promise for the future.

Harry Winks – 8.5

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring the 2nd Tottenham Hotspur goal with Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring the 2nd Tottenham Hotspur goal with Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

Harry Winks was the lynchpin in the Tottenham possession game once again. Where I have been critical in the past for Winks desire to go sideways rather than forward, on this day his passing flow was just about right. Even though he missed a couple of the longer forward balls he played, having at least 20% of his passing going forward as the deepest lying midfielder is important in connecting the lines and easing pressure in the back. Winks does well what I said Skipp should work on, moving to provide the angles his teammates need to make outlet passes easier. Whether from experience or health Winks continues to grow in confidence and that is a major positive for Spurs.

Moussa Sissoko – 8

Moussa Sissoko had three plays that stood out in this match. The first was some strong defending early in the first-half, where he chased down Chilwell, shouldered him off the ball and then calmly turned and started playing out of the back. The second was late in regular time, when Tottenham had been facing some sustained pressure from Leicester and instead of booting the ball out, as the rest of the team had been doing, Sissoko dribbled. The Frenchman’s ability to carry the ball in that situation relieved a lot of pressure and helped the teams resolve. Finally, in injury time, it was Sissoko who cleared the cross from inside the penalty area, just beyond a diving Ndidi that played Son in for the third goal. A presence throughout most of the match, Moussa Sissoko continues to show his value to Spurs.

Christian Eriksen – 8.5

Speaking of value to Spurs, while not a day where he zinged the ball all over the park and at times his passing wasn’t the best it’s been, but darn if Christian Eriksen doesn’t come up with big plays for Spurs time and again. It was a superb first touch that allowed Eriksen the time to pick his head up and play the driving ball into the box that Sanchez scored for Spurs first goal. Then less than five minutes after Lloris denied Vardy’s penalty, Eriksen fooled Kasper Schmeichel by going near post when he blasted home Spurs second. Always creative and willing to work on both ends of the pitch. Eriksen impacted the game despite not quite being at his best today, showing just what an amazing talent, he is.