Premier League
Tottenham3Leicester0

Tottenham 3-0 Leicester: Son Heung-min and Harry Kane score

Harry Kane
Harry Kane has scored 16 goals in 14 games against Leicester

Tottenham boosted their chances of Europa League football next season and inflicted a huge blow on Leicester's Champions League ambitions with a superb performance.

Brendan Rodgers' Leicester side have been in the Premier League's top four for much of the season but this devastating away defeat leaves them with a difficult task going into their final league game next Sunday.

The Foxes finish the season against fifth-placed Manchester United, but should the Red Devils beat West Ham on Wednesday and claim a draw at the King Power, they will be assured of a top-four finish at the expense of Leicester.

James Justin's own goal from Son Heung-min's strike and a double from Harry Kane - including a sumptuous curling effort - sealed Spurs' victory following a splendid first-half showing.

Leicester did have chances but could not find a way past an inspired Hugo Lloris, who made a string of superb saves to deny Jamie Vardy, Ayoze Perez and Demarai Gray.

Jose Mourinho's side move up to sixth in the table, two points clear of Wolves, but Nuno Espirito Santo's side have a game in hand.

Mourinho working his magic

Spurs were in disarray when chairman Daniel Levy made the shock decision to sack the popular Mauricio Pochettino and replace him with ex-Chelsea and Manchester United boss Mourinho.

They were 14th in the league and had won just three of their opening 12 league games this season, but the Portuguese boss has utilised his vast experience to turn things around.

Though a desperately poor loss against Sheffield United left him questioning the mentality of his players, their overall form has been excellent since the restart, and they have collected five wins and two draws from eight games.

While clinching European football for next season looked unlikely earlier in the campaign, a late season surge means seventh could be enough for a Europa League spot, depending on the winners of the FA Cup.

Spurs' finishing in the first 45 minutes was clinical - forward Son seeing his shot deflect in off James after wrong-footing Kasper Schmeichel, before England captain Kane showed his class.

The striker, who recently passed 200 career goals, has tormented Leicester whenever he has played against them and took his tally to 16 in 14 games against the Foxes with a cool, left-footed finish and a brilliant second which curled precisely into the far post past the reach of Schmeichel.

Having gone 3-0 up by half-time, there was no way back for Leicester in the second period as Mourinho's men expertly saw out the game.

Leicester's misery continues

Leicester boss Rodgers had said that a European spot was their target, one which they have accomplished, but he will be distraught at his side's capitulation since the restart which leaves them uncertain of a place in the Champions League next term.

Having been outstanding for the entire season and at one point being the closest challengers to eventual champions Liverpool, their miserable run has come at the wrong time and they have now won just two of their last eight games.

They are clinging on to fourth place but are level on points and goal difference with Manchester United, who know a heavy victory against West Ham in their next league match will leave Leicester needing a big win of their own on the final day.

They will be thankful to captain Schmeichel for making a crucial stop to thwart Son's dipping effort, as conceding another goal would have seen them drop down to fifth on goal difference.

Leicester could easily have scored four or five goals but were unable to penetrate Lloris' goal, the France World Cup winner keeping out top-scorer Vardy's backheel.

And the Tottenham captain made even better stops to add to Leicester's torment, showcasing his sharp reactions to twice repel Perez's volley and long-range drive as well as flying saves off Gray's long-range free-kick and Kelechi Iheanacho's curler.

Man of the match - Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Harry Kane
Kane scored with both of his shots on target against Leicester

What next?

Spurs end their season with a trip to Crystal Palace, while Leicester host Manchester United in what could turn out to be winner-takes-all for a Champions League place. All 10 fixtures on the last day take place on Sunday, kicking off at 16:00 BST).

Spurs finally feel at home - the stats

  • Tottenham have won four consecutive Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time - it's their longest winning run at home since December 2018 (4).
  • Leicester City (D3 L5) have gone eight away Premier League games without a victory for the first time since February 2017 (a run of 15).
  • Leicester City have lost three consecutive away league games against Tottenham for the first time since December 1966.
  • Since Jose Mourinho's first game in charge of Tottenham in November 2019, the Lilywhites have won 44 points; only Liverpool (59), Man City (50) and Man Utd (46) have picked up more in this period.
  • Tottenham striker Harry Kane has now scored 16 goals in 14 games against Leicester in all competitions, more than he's scored against any other opponent in his career.
  • Tottenham's Lucas Moura assisted two goals in a single game for Tottenham for only the second time, also doing so against Rochdale in the FA Cup in February 2018.
  • Tottenham Hotspur have benefited from more own goals (5) than any other team in the Premier League this season.
  • Leicester City conceded an own goal in consecutive away Premier League games for the first time since February 2004.
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Line-ups

Tottenham

  • 1Lloris
  • 24Aurier
  • 6D SánchezBooked at 86mins
  • 4Alderweireld
  • 33Davies
  • 17Sissoko
  • 8WinksSubstituted forSkippat 90+2'minutes
  • 18Lo CelsoSubstituted forLamelaat 77'minutes
  • 27Lucas MouraBooked at 57minsSubstituted forBergwijnat 77'minutes
  • 10Kane
  • 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forCarvalho Fernandesat 89'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Vertonghen
  • 11Lamela
  • 19R Sessegnon
  • 21Foyth
  • 22Gazzaniga
  • 23Bergwijn
  • 29Skipp
  • 30Carvalho Fernandes
  • 39Tanganga

Leicester

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 29BennettSubstituted forGrayat 45'minutes
  • 5Morgan
  • 6EvansBooked at 73mins
  • 2Justin
  • 25NdidiSubstituted forMendyat 70'minutes
  • 8TielemansSubstituted forPraetat 70'minutes
  • 56Thomas
  • 17PérezSubstituted forIheanachoat 59'minutes
  • 9Vardy
  • 15BarnesSubstituted forHirstat 83'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Gray
  • 12Ward
  • 14Iheanacho
  • 20Choudhury
  • 22James
  • 24Mendy
  • 26Praet
  • 39Johnson
  • 45Hirst
Referee:
Anthony Taylor

Match Stats

Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamLeicester
Possession
Home29%
Away71%
Shots
Home7
Away24
Shots on Target
Home3
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away13
Fouls
Home15
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Leicester City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Leicester City 0.

  3. Post update

    Jonny Evans (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur).

  5. Post update

    Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Serge Aurier (Tottenham Hotspur).

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Oliver Skipp replaces Harry Winks.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. George Hirst (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Demarai Gray.

  9. Post update

    Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Serge Aurier (Tottenham Hotspur).

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Gedson Fernandes replaces Son Heung-Min.

  12. Post update

    Attempt missed. George Hirst (Leicester City) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Demarai Gray with a cross following a corner.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.

  14. Post update

    Attempt saved. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Justin.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  16. Booking

    Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    George Hirst (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur).

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. George Hirst replaces Harvey Barnes.

  20. Post update

    Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Ben Davies tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.

As It Stands

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Liverpool36303377294893
2Man City36243993355875
3Chelsea361961164491563
4Leicester371881167392862
5Man Utd361711863352862
6Tottenham3716101160461458
7Wolves361414849381156
8Sheff Utd361412103835354
9Burnley37159134248-654
10Arsenal36131495345853
11Southampton37147164859-1149
12Everton361210144253-1146
13Newcastle361110153755-1843
14Crystal Palace36119163047-1742
15West Ham36107194760-1337
16Brighton36813153753-1637
17Watford36810183457-2334
18Aston Villa3687213966-2731
19Bournemouth3787223764-2731
20Norwich3756262670-4421
View full Premier League table

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