Coach Ryan Mason gave Dele Alli and Gareth Bale starting nods for Tottenham Hotspur against relegated Sheffield United. Former star Alli only had two starts in the Leauge this season under former coach Jose Mourinho. Bale was in and out under the previous coach. While only one match, putting Bale and Dele on the pitch seemed to pay off.
Tottenham Starting Four we Want
Ryan Mason was going for it versus Sheffield United starting the four Spurs everyone has been waiting to see together all season. Mason included both Dele Alli and Gareth Bale in the team to face the Pirates.
Bale and Alli of course joined Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, for the Son, Kane, Alli, and Bale quartet we have longed for. With Lo Celso in a deeper position next to Pierre Højbjerg, it is clear the intent for Tottenham was to attack.
The back four for the Lilywhites is a familiar group, with Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld in the middle. Serge Aurier and Sergio Reguilon are on either side of the two center-halves. Matt Doherty was back in the substitutes bench and was joined by Davinson Sanchez for defense, with every other substitute – less Joe Hart – a midfielder or attacker.
Based on the 20 players chosen the plan was clear, the question was could Tottenham execute?
A Strong first half for Spurs
Tottenham was the dominant side in the first half as the defensive pressure that was not present versus Manchester City was obvious against Sheffield. Again and again United turned the ball over giving it back to Tottenham to look for a crease in the defense.
As the Spurs were intercepting and recovering the ball in the attacking half, it seemed only a matter of time before Tottenham broke through with a goal. As Tottenham peppered Aaron Ramsdale and the Sheffield goal, the Spurs accumulated 10 shots in the half, with five on target.
A mix of long diagonal balls and attempts to get crosses into the box kept Sheffield off balance and contributed to a dominating 74% first-half Tottenham possession. Eventually, a little chip from Serge Aurier over the defense and a nice dink of touch from Gareth Bale beat Ramsdale and unlocked the Pirates.
Tottenham trying to avoid a second-half slump
After being completely dominated in the first half, Sheffield United made a couple of changes to the players and adjusted the formation to make a go of it. Given the points dropped in the second half by Tottenham Hotspur from winning positions, pushing Spurs in the second half is a smart approach.
Sheffield looked up for the battle as John Fleck stepped on Lo Celso’s face early in the second half demonstrating Sheffield’s intent. As the Pirates looked to fight for possession, Tottenham looked for the counter-attacks.
A beautiful long-ball from Toby Alderweireld to Heung-Min Son was called back for offside but the move was just a harbinger of things to come for Sheffield.
Gareth Bale takes the game ball
As Sheffield was pushing earning their first corner of the match the kind of counterattack we had been expecting all season showed up for Spurs. The ball was cleared up near midfield to Heung-Min Son who played it forward to the flashing Gareth Bale.
Ahead of everyone with nothing but green between himself and Ramsdale in the goal, Bale cruised in and blasted past Ramsdale for the 2-0 lead. Bale had enough time to think about it but showed tremendous composure for the goal just past the hour mark.
Less than 10 minutes later Tottenham was attacking with the ball. Serge Aurier was dribbling in from the right and as Harry Kane flashed across a hole opened at the top of the box. Aurier rolled the ball across the top of the 18 as Bale came running on to score his third. It was Bale’s first Premier League hat-trick in more than eight years and put the game to bed.
Son still got his goal
Despite having his earlier effort called out for a marginal VAR offside, Heung-Min Son made sure he was going to get his. With the ball near the top of the box, Son blasted in off the post past a helpless Ramsdale.
As Tottenham brought in substitutes, bringing both Bale and Dele off – who both did their part, Sheffield pushed to try and find some solace from a goal. In the end, it seemed Harry Kane and Tottenham were the more likely of the two teams to score a fifth goal. However, neither team could find the target as the match ended at 4-0.
It was a big win for Tottenham temporarily putting the Spurs in 5th place, ahead of both West Ham and Liverpool, who both still have to play. Tottenham travels to Elland Road to take on Leeds United on Saturday as Spurs continue to try and close with a bang.