Christian Eriksen raised his game when Tottenham needed him most… the Danish conductor dictated the tempo to keep title pursuit alive

By

Adam Crafton for the Daily Mail

Published:
10:51 EST, 10 February 2019

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Updated:
10:57 EST, 10 February 2019

In the absence of Dele Alli and Harry Kane, the momentum of Tottenham’s season was supposed to come to a screeching halt.

Not only would Spurs’ tentative assault on the Premier League come under threat but in light of a resurgent Manchester United, the suspicion was that Spurs could yet be dragged into a battle for the top four positions.

In some ways, the gloomy predictions have played out. The demands of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup proved excessive for this over-stretched Tottenham team.

Christian Eriksen turned on the style again for Tottenham to help beat Leicester City

Eriksen set-up Davinson Sanchez for the opening goal before scoring Spurs’ second

Fernando Llorente is, sadly, too often a statuesque pale imitation of Kane while Alli’s determined pressing and sharp penalty box instincts have also been missed.

Yet in the Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino’s team just keep finding a way. Son Heung-min continues to make his mark but the Argentine manager also owes his gratitude to the enduring brilliance of Christian Eriksen.

The Danish playmaker made one and scored one to elevate an ordinary Tottenham performance with two swishes of his right foot.

For Tottenham, it is a wand that seems to grow in value with every passing week. Eriksen’s contract is due to expire in the summer of 2020 and Tottenham have, for some time now, been locked in extensive negotiations with the Dane’s advisors.

In Spain, Real Madrid’s interest in Eriksen is not a secret. Indeed, before opting to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, Barcelona briefly considered an approach for Eriksen, in addition to the signing of Anthony Martial from Manchester United. 

A brilliant finish from outside the box, Eriksen fooled goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel 

ERIKSEN THIS SEASON

 Appearances: 32

Goals: 7

Assists: 11

He would improve almost every side in world football. Now 26, he faces a crucial decision.

Does he trust Tottenham to discover their trophy-winning touch over the next five years? Or must he pursue a club with a grander name and greater guarantees of success?

For Tottenham, it would be a devastating blow. Eriksen now has seven goals and eleven assists for the season but he does so much more for his team. He dictates the tempo, constructs attacks and his delivery is pitch-perfect.

Here at Wembley, Eriksen raised his game when Spurs most required his intervention. In truth, Tottenham rode their luck and were indebted both to the smart goalkeeping of Hugo Lloris and the exasperatingly poor finishing of their visitors. 

Young Harvey Barnes ought to have scored three, Jamie Vardy missed a penalty and Demarai Gray spurned guilt-edged chances of his own.

Leicester, it should be said, did not set up to contain Eriksen’s threat. In a side packed full of creative talent, Wilfried Ndidi was rarely close enough to Eriksen. As such, the midfielder was able to control the pace of Tottenham’s attacks.

But it wasn’t enough as Son Heung-min, another of Spurs’ key men, scored a third

His first major contribution, a wonderful curling delivery met by Davinson Sanchez, handed Tottenham the lead at a point in the first-half where Leicester had been the more aggressive side. His second, a rasping strike from distance, dispatched with clever disguise, fooled Kasper Schmeichel and gave Tottenham breathing space.

The scoreline suggested a level of comfort for Tottenham but manager Mauricio Pochettino was so twitchy that he brought on a third centre-back in Toby Alderweireld to protect Spurs’ 2-0 advantage. 

Even then, Tottenham’s anxiety returned when Jamie Vardy reduced the arrears but ultimately, Eriksen had provided the clinical edge on a day it firmly eluded his opponents.

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Son Heung-min burst clear to score Tottenham’s third in the final seconds and create the illusion this might have been another routine home win. It was, in fact, anything but.

Davinson Sanchez headed Spurs into the lead in the first half but Leicester missed a glut of wonderful chances, including a penalty which proved the key moment in the game.

The taking of the spot-kick was delayed in order to allow Jamie Vardy on to take it but Hugo Lloris saved and three minutes later, Christian Eriksen extended the lead. 

Son Heung-min races clear in stoppage time and slots past Kasper Schmeichel to make sure of the three points for Spurs

The South Korean international celebrates with his arms outstretched after scoring in a third successive game for Tottenham

Christian Eriksen whips an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to double Tottenham’s advantage

Harry Winks joins his team-mate Eriksen in celebrating the 2-0 win as they bid to stay in the race for the league title

Anguish is etched on Jamie Vardy’s face as he sees his penalty kick saved by Hugo Lloris straight after coming off the bench

Davinson Sanchez dives in ahead of Harry Maguire to open the scoring for Tottenham just after the half-hour mark

Davinson Sanchez shares a warm embrace with team-mate Kieran Trippier after scoring his first goal for Tottenham

The Colombian international thumps the Tottenham badge on his chest after breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE 

Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose (Walker-Peters 88), Winks, Skipp (Alderweireld 71), Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Llorente (Wanyama 80)

Subs not used: Foyth, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Lucas Moura

Goalscorers: Sanchez 33, Eriksen 63, Son 90+1

Booked: Rose, Son, Vertonghen

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Maguire, Evans, Chilwell, Ndidi, Tielemans, Ghezzal (Iheanacho 72), Maddison, Barnes (Okazaki 88), Gray (Vardy 59)

Subs not used: Simpson, Morgan, Ward, Choudhury

Goalscorers: Vardy 76

Booked: Tielemans 

Referee: Michael Oliver

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Christian Eriksen finds the back of the net to double Spurs’s lead. CLICK HERE for more from MATCH ZONE

 

 

Vardy then pulled one back and Leicester were pushing for an equaliser when Son was released to sprint clear and fire past Kaspser Schmeichel.

Leicester despaired and Tottenham added another three points to their collection as they clung to the fringes of the title race.

Claude Puel had started with Vardy on the bench despite the England striker’s prolific record against the Premier League’s biggest sides.

Vardy came into the game having scored 28 in 51 against the traditional Big Six, and 13 of them since the start of last season, but Demarai Gray was chosen to the lead the line, with James Maddison in support and the pace of Harvey Barnes and Rachid Ghezzal out wide.

Leicester started fluently and created a flurry of chances as Spurs looked vulnerable, both from open play and dead-ball situations.

Lloris pushed over a firm header by Harry Maguire from a free-kick delivered by Maddison and Jonny Evans won the ball from the corner which followed but could not keep his header down.

Barnes wriggled clear of Kieran Trippier and lashed another effort narrowly wide.

Kieran Trippier shoots towards goal during the early stages of Tottenham’s clash against Leicester at Wembley

Leicester midfielder Rachid Ghezzal looks to get past Tottenham left-back Danny Rose as the visitors start an attack

Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp and Leicester defender Ricardo Periera go in hard as they battle for the ball

Leicester midfielder James Maddison tangles with Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks as he hits the deck

Harvey Barnes aims a shot on goal as Leicester looked to attack Tottenham in the early stages of Sunday’s game

Maddison curled wide from edge of penalty box and Barnes set off again on another dribble, burrowing into the Tottenham penalty area before miscuing his shot and dragging the ball wide.

Spurs, in contrast, spluttered in attack, unable to produce anything too threatening during the opening half-hour.

Son was booked for diving when he tumbled far too easily just inside the Leicester penalty area.

Maguire took a heavy touch which allowed Son to dart in and take the ball, and then dangle his leg to ensure there was some contact before hitting the turf.

Fingers were pointed and angry words exchanged between the two players.

Referee Michael Oliver ruled it to be simulation and Son’s desperation to claim a penalty betrayed the sense of desperation creeping into Pochettino’s side as they struggled to find a way through.

Danny Rose cut in from the left and forced a save from Schmeichel but Spurs had not troubled the Leicester ‘keeper greatly when they took the lead from a corner.

Leicester defender Harry Maguire leaves a trailing leg that upends Tottenham forward Son Heung-min in the penalty area

The referee blows his whistle but awards a free-kick to Leicester as Harry Maguire angrily accuses the Spurs star

Son Heung-min and Harry Maguire were involved in an angry exchange in the aftermath of the incident  in the first-half

The South Korean international was in disbelief at being awarded a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver for simulation

Danny Rose makes a marauding run down the left-hand side but sees his right-footed effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel

New Leicester signing Youri Tielemans slides in to try and dispossess Christian Eriksen during the first period

The kick was taken short, pulled to the corner of the penalty box from where Eriksen swung it into the goalmouth.

Sanchez burst onto the swerving cross with a diving header which crashed past Schmeichel and soothed the nerves.

Leicester hands went up for offside but the goal would stand as punishment for their wastefulness at the other end.

The pattern continued into the second half with even better chances squandered by the visitors.

Gray nursed a header into the gloves of Lloris when he ought to have equalised and Ben Chilwell was unable to beat the ‘keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Then came the moment when the game lurched away from Puel’s team when referee Oliver awarded a penalty for a foul by Jan Vertonghen on Maddison.

Vardy had been preparing to come on to replace Gray and Leicester waited in order to let the substitute take the penalty.

Fernando Llorente has his head in his hands after missing an opportunity to put Tottenham further ahead in the match

Demarai Gray has a chance to draw Leicester level shortly after half-time but misses with his headed opportunity

Leicester are presented with a golden chance to equalise as James Maddison is brought down by Jan Vertonghen in the box

Maddison passed the ball to Vardy, who placed it on the spot, drove it low with his first touch of the game and watched in horror as Lloris sprang to his right and saved.

Three minutes later and Tottenham stretched further ahead.

Ricardo Pereira dithered over a clearance at right-back until it was closed down by teenager Oliver Skipp.

The ball dropped to Eriksen, who traded passes with Fernando Llorente before firing past Schmeichel from 20 yards.

Still, Leicester generated chances. One fell to Barnes with only Lloris to beat. This time the Spurs keeper saved with a foot.

Just as it felt like they would never score, Vardy made amends for his penalty miss.

Ricardo crossed low from the right and Vardy pounced to find the net from close range.

Kelechi Iheanacho drove wide and Chilwell had a header saved before Son settled the outcome.

Maddison steps up to take the spot-kick only for Jamie Vardy to be brought on by manager Claude Puel to take it instead

Vardy’s first touch is a penalty but his effort is too close to Hugo Lloris who palms it away to preserve Tottenham’s lead

Vardy makes amends by turning the ball home from close range to set up a frantic final quarter-of-an-hour at Wembley