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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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Spurs Strikers

After finishing the last game with Fernando Llorente and Heung-Min Son up-top, Tottenham started the Leicester match with the two set to play off each other in the Spurs attack. While not as connected as Pochettino would probably like, the duo got the job done with a goal and an assist between them.

Fernando Llorente – 7

Despite only taking one official shot, a header that was off target, Fernando Llorente again found a way to influence the outcome of the match. Llorente played a nice one-two combination with Christian Eriksen on the Dane’s goal. After Skipp blocked a clearance, Eriksen quickly touched forward to Llorente who then played a first-time ball back to Eriksen who found the net. The Spaniard continues to improve week-to-week as he knocks the rust off his game. Fernando seemed more of a pest defensively today than in previous matches and worked to be a target. Not always pretty, but he continues to get the job done.

Heung-Min Son – 8

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur scores his teams third 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 Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur scores his teams third 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 Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

Speaking of pretty, however, a textbook breakaway and finish in second-half injury time granted Spurs some breathing room and displayed why Pochettino cannot take the South Korean off the pitch. Heung-Min Son received the ball near the midline circle in Spurs’ own half of the pitch, five touches later he was sliding near the corner flag celebrating the game sealing goal. Dribbling toward the center of the pitch as he drove forward, Son had options galore as he calmly drilled the ball past Schmeichel’s sprawling feet as his arms went one way and Son slotted the other with his left instep. Unlucky to not get a penalty and doubly unlucky to be booked on what should have been a spot kick in the first half; Son came through when it mattered most for Spurs.

Substitutes

Pochettino used all three substitutes, with only Toby Alderweireld getting any major time, coming on for Oliver Skipp in the 71st minute. Alderweireld’s introduction signified a switch to a three-back formation, that was more of a five-back formation for the last 15 minutes. Alderweireld wasn’t his sharpest but the minutes should serve him well before Champions League this week.

Victor Wanyama made another appearance, coming on for Llorente in the 80th minute to add muscle to the midfield and compact the defense. Wanyama didn’t make much impact and misplayed his first pass. That said, the more Wanyama and Dier both can come back and play effectively the more Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko can push up in attack.

Kyle Walker-Peters came on toward the end of the match for Danny Rose and had little opportunity to impact the game given his limited minutes.

What’s Next?

Tottenham host Borussia Dortmund in Champions League this week, then both teams are off until Saturday February 23, when Spurs travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley and Leicester hosts Crystal Palace at King Power Stadium.

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