Dele, Lloris lead player ratings as Tottenham Hotspur tops Wolves in EPL
By Aaron Coe
Tottenham Midfield Ratings
If you are looking for a midfield full of creative passes and astonishing runs, Tottenham was not really that on Sunday. However, what the midfield three had in spades was a tremendous work rate that never quit and did enough to help manage the game, protect the defense, and win the day for the Spurs.
Dele Alli – 7.5
Dele Alli did not have the classic Dele day we came to expect when he was younger, despite picking up the big foul in the box. Instead what we saw was the new Dele that no one can call lazy work all over the pitch. Dele did show he still has that eye for the run with the quick diagonal flash to get behind the defense on the penalty. And sure he may have dangled the leg a little but Sa was going to clatter him regardless and Dele had already gotten a touch on the ball. His composure on the spot-kick was excellent, likely making some fans of England cringe knowing how the summer went down. Dele still allowed himself to get pushed off the ball a few too many times looking for calls that never came but overall his strength and stamina are welcome in the team that needs to bring a lunch pail to work every day.
Oliver Skipp – 6.5
When it comes to bringing it every day for the team, 20-year-old midfielder Oliver Skipp is getting that message. Skipp did not contribute a ton to the offensive game but his work reading the match and breaking up play in the deep midfield was excellent. The one time it looked like Skipp had won the ball at midfield with space in front of him, Atwell blew the whistle for a foul before Skipp got there. Skippy had a couple of passes that almost came up short but then again he made a couple of passes come up short for Wolves with his defense. Another solid outing against a difficult side for midfielder overall.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg had an up and down day as he spent most of the afternoon helping Sanchez and Tanganga keep tabs on Traore and Neves. This work helped Højbjerg fill up the stat sheet with two tackles, a clearance, an interception, and a block. However, the defensive efforts also meant a less progressive Højbjerg than the one who played against Manchester City. While the Dane led the team in passing accuracy (93%) and attempts – tied with Skipp at 45 – Højbjerg was very conservative with his passing attempting only two long balls. That said, the Viking did almost have a moment where he had made an overlapping run beyond Harry Kane in the box, going on to nutmeg the defender only to have his shot blocked. It was some impressive skill from a man renowned for his abilities on the other side of the ball and shows Højbjerg is more than meets the eye.