Glenn Hoddle has hailed Tanguy Ndombele’s inch-perfect pass to set up Harry Kane’s opener in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
With some first-team regulars not fit to start for Spurs following a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, Antonio Conte switched from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2, naming a new-look midfield of Harry Winks, Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele.
While Dele and Winks earned Conte’s praise for their performances, Ndombele had a quieter evening and looked off-the-pace at times before eventually being replaced by Oliver Skipp on the 64th minute.
However, the Frenchman did produce a moment of magic in the first half as he played a perfectly timed through ball to Kane, who finished excellently into the far corner past Alisson.
Hoddle spoke in glowing terms of the execution of Ndombele’s pass, pointing that the perfect weight on the through ball enabled Kane to hit it first-time without taking a touch.
The legendary Spurs midfielder told Premier League Productions (19/12/21 at 5:25 pm): “This is a wonderful pass. It allows Harry Kane not to touch the ball. He is now hitting a ball now that with his first touch.
“What a finish from Harry. He’s been waiting and waiting for that, but that is a wonderful finish – and that pass was absolutely top-notch.”
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Ndombele could have taken the easy option by playing the ball out-wide to Emerson but he chose the difficult pass and executed it to perfection. The Frenchman also waited for an extra moment to ensure that Kane got back onside.
Outside a couple of such moments, Ndombele did struggle to influence the game, although I was impressed with the discipline he showed off the ball.
On the back of yesterday’s performance, it appears as if Dele has moved ahead of Ndombele in the pecking order should Conte decide to stick with a 3-5-2 rather than reverting a 3-4-3.
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