Hugo Lloris: 8
Kyle Walker: 7
Toby Alderweireld: 8
Jan Vertonghen: 8
Ben Davies: 7
Eric Dier: 7
Dele Alli: 8
Mousa Dembele: 7
Erik Lamela: 7
Harry Kane: 8
Christian Eriksen: 7
Subs
Tom Carroll: 5
Nacer Chadli: 5
Son Heung-Min: 5
STAR PLAYER
Dele Alli. The midfielder was the busiest individual in what was a fine team performance. He, as is the case for Tottenham this season, has played better, but his influence was consistent, and when he demonstrated his composure with Spurs’ second goal he also happened to secure all three points. Toby Alderweireld, incidentally, and at one of his former clubs, also impressed.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Sadio Mane had a fine opportunity to score in the eighth minute, when Southampton were in the ascendancy. There was little wrong with the finish, but Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris produced an exceptional save to keep the score at 0-0. A lesser goalkeeper would not have done so, and the game would thereafter have been entirely different – in such moments are matches won and lost.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino will no doubt be encouraged by another victory that suggests last week’s 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle was little more than a blip. His team were clinical and ruthless as opposed to impressive, but that mattered little in what, by the final whistle, had become a routine victory.
Southampton’s Ronald Koeman simply appears short of luck. He has impressed so far in England, and had organised and motivated his players to inspire what was an encouraging opening 30 minutes when all they lacked was a goal. Koeman cannot be blamed for Lloris saving from Mane.
WHO’S UP NEXT
Tottenham v Norwich (Barclays Premier League, Saturday, December 26)
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