Hat-trick for LLorente as Spurs hit seven
Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick as Tottenham ran amok at Tranmere, with Mauricio Pochettino’s swashbuckling side netting seven as they cruised through their FA Cup thirdround tie. The Premier League title contenders took on the League Two playoff hopefuls at a sell-out Prenton Park last night, when the TV cameras were in position in hope of an upset at a club with a famous cup pedigree. But Spurs avoided any issues against Tranmere as Pochettino’s much-changed side dominated from the outset, with Llorente’s treble complementing a Serge Aurier brace, a stunning Son Heung-min solo goal and a Harry Kane effort in a 7-0 win against Micky Mellon’s side. The north Londoners had progressed from 17 of their past 18 FA Cup ties against lower-league opposition, but Pochettino, looking for his first trophy, last season saw his side taken to a replay by Newport and Rochdale. There were no such problems against Tranmere, with early missed chances atoned for as Aurier’s longrange strike bent into the top corner via a slight deflection before a devastating second-half display. Llorente scored before Aurier completed his brace - both goals were set up by Son, who would score his own in some style as he ran from his own half and eventually turned home. Spurs will miss the South Korea international when he heads off to the Asian Cup and could rue a January exit for Llorente, who completed a secondhalf hat-trick before being replaced by Kane - a move greeted by concerned home jeers and swiftly followed by a goal. It was quite the performance from a Tottenham side showing eight changes from the midweek win at Cardiff.