Spurs keep Foxes at bay
Pochettino’s side ease past Leicester to keep their title hopes alive
London, Feb. 10: Tottenham kept alive their bid to gate- crash the Premier League title race as Davinson Sanchez’s first goal for the club and Hugo Lloris’s penalty save inspired a 3- 1 win over Leicester on Sunday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side took the lead through Sanchez’s first half header, but they were indebted to Lloris for keeping out Jamie Vardy’s spot- kick after the interval at Wembley.
Christian Eriksen netted moments later and although Vardy got one back, Son Heung- min’s late strike ensured thirdplaced Tottenham clinched a fifth win in their last six league games. The north Londoners are five points off the top of the table as they try to catch pace- setters Liverpool and Manchester City.
While Tottenham are still outsiders to win their first English title since 1961, their ability to stay in contention, despite injuries to key players Harry Kane and Dele Alli suggests they shouldn’t be completely written off.
This gritty success was the ideal preparation for hosting Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last 16 first leg on Wednesday.
Leicester have lost four of their last five league games, increasing the pressure on under- fire boss Claude Puel.
Puel has reportedly lost
the support of several influential players, including England striker Vardy, who was left on the bench for the first 60 minutes before coming on to miss the penalty with his first touch.
LIVERPOOL TAKE
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First- half goals from Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum together with Mohamed Salah’s 48thminute effort saw Liverpool to a 3- 0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.
Victory meant Liverpool, who had been second on goal difference, leapfrogged Manchester City by three points ahead of the reigning champions’ match at home to Chelsea on Sunday.
Liverpool had dropped points in successive 1- 1 draws against Leicester and West Ham, sparking suggestions they were losing their nerve in a quest to end the club’s 29- year wait to be crowned champions of England once again.
Arsenal inflicted more misery on Huddersfield with a 2- 1 win away to the bottom- of- the- table club.
Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal 2- 0 up before halftime, with Sead Kolasinac’s own- goal too late for the Terriers.
Elsewhere under- pressure Everton manager Marco Silva’s return to Watford ended in a 1- 0 defeat thanks to an Andre Gray goal.
Everton’s loss was compounded when Kurt Zouma was sent off after the final whistle for complaining to referee Lee Probert.