Tottenham Hotspur open their 2024/25 Premier League account with a draw away to Leicester City, despite dominating the first half of the match at the King Power Stadium.
Let’s take a look at how the individual players got on:
Guglielmo Vicario – 7 – Had a much better time of it today from set-pieces. The rules are meant to be stricter on blocking keepers this season so that will do him the world of good. A couple of decent saves too. Was not happy with Bergvall at the end of the game after giving the ball away.
Pedro Porro – 8 – Scored Tottenham’s first goal of the season and whipped in some delightful crosses from the right too. Could have tracked Vardy for the equaliser but it also wasn’t his man. Went off with a knock at the end of the game but hopefully he is okay.
Cristian Romero – 6.5 – Didn’t give Jamie Vardy an inch in the first-half and was a real nuisance in the Leicester penalty area from set-pieces too. In the second half, he went to sleep for one moment and let Vardy drift off his shoulder, and that cost Tottenham in the end – such are the margins.
Micky Van de Ven – 6.5 – He looks like he’s playing the game in third gear most of the time, then surprises you with a burst of speed and strength. One thing he needs to improve is his level of passing between the lines, which Romero is great at on the right.
Destiny Udogie – 6.5 – Didn’t take him long to get back up to speed. Some of those triangles with Udogie, Maddison and Son were delightful. Could have easily grabbed an assist or two in the first half. In the second 45, he ran out of gas a bit and struggled more defensively.
Rodrigo Bentancur – 7 – Neat and tidy in possession to keep Spurs ticking over. A couple of nervy mistakes which you really can’t afford in the lone pivot role, but he grew into the game. Unfortunately, he had to go off after a really nasty head injury. Fingers crossed he is okay!
Pape Matar Sarr – 6 – The press on the right side from Sarr, Johnson and Solanke was a real feature for Spurs. As usual, a real workhorse off the ball for Postecoglou, which is why he is near-undroppable. When Spurs are under pressure, you sometimes want more quality on the ball from him.
James Maddison – 8 – Looked much more like himself this evening. Controlled the play in tight areas down the left and managed to set Son and Udogie away time and time again. His cross to assist Porro’s opener was superb. Unfortunately, he seemed to vanish again when Leicester built up a bit of steam.
Brennan Johnson – 6 – Had a couple of flashes in the first half when he volleyed two efforts at goal. Beyond that, he struggled to influence the game in the same way that Porro was on the right.
Dominic Solanke – 6.5 – His hold-up play and link-up play was good this evening – exactly what Tottenham have been missing at times. He could have easily had a hat-trick in the first half but missed a couple of simple headers. In a few weeks, he’ll probably be scoring those chances for fun, but tonight it did end up costing Spurs a little.
Heung-min Son – 6 – Looked so more like himself out on the left, especially in his link-up play with Maddison. Curled a superb cross into Solanke that should have made it 1-0. A few heavy touches in key positions were the difference between an okay performance and a really influential one.
Substitutes:
Archie Gray – 6 – Came on for the last 20 minutes in the pivot roll and knocked the ball around well.
Lucas Bergvall – 6 – Looked so tidy on the ball but almost gave Leicester a goal when he gave possession away in a really dangerous position.
Dejan Kulusevski – 7 – A real bright spark in the last 20 minutes. Probably should have started the game.
Timo Werner – 6 – Offered a little more than Johnson did down that right side.
Richarlison – N/A – Missed a sitter of a header right at the death.
Djed Spence – N/A – Came on the replace the injured Porro late on.
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