Pape Sarr and Heung-Min Son delivered Tottenham parting items earlier than Richarlison secured a 3-1 victory over in-form Bournemouth to shut the hole on the highest 4 to at least one level.
The pair will head to the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asia Cup respectively subsequent month, though Sarr’s involvement is unsure after he left the pitch injured and in tears in the course of the first half.
The Senegal midfielder struck an early opener for Tottenham, however Bournemouth dominated the remainder of the half and missed a number of possibilities earlier than Son netted Spurs’ second with lower than 20 minutes remaining.
Richarlison swept in a late third though Bournemouth pushed till the tip, seeing substitute Alex Scott rating a comfort which was the least Andoni Iraola’s facet deserved.
How Spurs closed the hole
Tottenham started the day 4 factors behind fourth-placed Arsenal and instantly set about narrowing the hole with Son firing broad from an offside place after which Richarlison lofting over. Bournemouth threatened too, Solanke mistiming a downward header earlier than Sarr discovered the web.
Rodrigo Bentancur stepped ahead to intercept within the Bournemouth half, Giovani Lo Celso received the second ball and because the guests’ defence backed off, Sarr fired into the underside nook.
Neto saved from Emerson Royal after which Son earlier than the injured Sarr left the pitch inconsolable, along with his untimely departure serving to Bournemouth get on high.
Marcus Tavernier’s free-kick was deflected narrowly broad and Justin Kluivert dragged an effort off beam from contained in the field. A Bournemouth equaliser felt inevitable, however Spurs survived as Ben Davies deflected Solanke’s shot onto the crossbar on the finish of a breathless half.
Bournemouth picked up from the place they left off with a Solanke header stored out by Guglielmo Vicario, however regardless of their dominance, Richarlison missed an enormous alternative, rolling broad from Son’s via ball.
Solanke missed one other probability – the striker racking up 9 photographs – side-footing broad from shut vary as Spurs dug deep within the wind and rain. Son eased the stress with a effective end to double their lead and with Spurs purring, Richarlison tapped in from Brennan Johnson’s cross.
However Bournemouth by no means gave up, seeing Scott discover the underside proper nook with a composed end and there was nonetheless time for Spurs substitute Bryan Gil to hit the crossbar from simply yards out and one other Scott objective to be dominated out for offside.
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- Tottenham have scored in every of their final 32 Premier League video games since a 1-0 defeat at Wolves in March – the longest ongoing streak within the competitors. Moreover, solely three sides have gone on an extended such streak within the Premier League (Arsenal 55, Liverpool and Manchester United each 36).
- Bournemouth had 24 photographs on this match – the Cherries’ most in a Premier League recreation since their draw in opposition to Watford in January 2019. Bournemouth had 12 extra makes an attempt than Tottenham – the very best tally that Spurs have been outshot within the Premier League this season, and their most since April this yr (-14 v Newcastle).
- This was Tottenham’s first Premier League victory on New 12 months’s Eve since a 2-0 win over Newcastle in 2005. The truth is, Spurs had didn’t win their ultimate recreation in every of the earlier 5 years, with this their first such victory since 2017 (5-2 v Southampton).
- Richarlison has scored 5 objectives in his final 5 Premier League video games for Spurs, after netting simply twice in his first 39 appearances for the membership within the competitors. Spurs have received every of their final 5 league video games when Richarlison has scored, with their solely defeat when he discovered the web coming of their first such recreation at Liverpool in April.
What’s subsequent?
Tottenham welcome Burnley to north London within the FA Cup third spherical on Friday January 5; kick-off 8pm.
Bournemouth journey to QPR within the FA Cup third spherical on Saturday, January 6; kick-off 3pm.