Pochettino has not spoken to Lloris about staying at Spurs – “you don’t need to convince him to stay because he has a four-year contract” – and rejected the notion that he may have missed the season opener due to the talk over his future.
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Stoke’s performance was far from the finished article, especially for the first hour or so, but there was no doubting the spirit, belief and eventually the cutting edge that prised a draw from a seemingly lost cause. However, Hugo Lloris proved equal to the task.
It all started so well for the hosts, who enjoyed all of the early possession and took the lead through Eric Dier.
“We put the effort in and restricted them to a few chances”. Spurs have one point from their first two games, as do the Potters. Butland, though, was on hand to turn the striker’s shot on goal away from danger.
Deployed as a central midfielder for the second successive week after spending most of last season at right-back, Dier helped to win the corner from which he scored, rising highest to nod home Christian Eriksen’s delivery from the left.
After losing both of their games against Mark Hughes’ side last season, Spurs have now failed to beat Stoke in the last three attempts.
Spurs were well on top but Arnautovic was causing problems down Stoke’s left side.
And there was worse to come for Tottenham, as Diouf glanced Ireland’s inviting cross in after 83 minutes to complete the comeback. But Spurs are lightweight up front right now. Seemingly destined for victory, the capitulation is cause for concern.
The home side were immediately into their stride. Alderweireld were certainly to blame for the lack of composure in defence. The threat of Mame Biram Diouf, the former United player is a different proposition all together. Again he looked certain to score and again Lloris came to the rescue, making an excellent an point-blank save.
Yes, Other players weighed in here. They stifled Ibrahim Afellay and Walters with consummate ease, with Dier in particular a stand out performer.
Yet, for all his and Mason’s hard work, the players behind him were unable to live up to expectations. A minute later, Kyle Walker got into a tussle on a yellow card and was very close to being sent off, but the official was able to cool down tempers and play continued. Erik Pieters and Marko Arnautovic look likely to feature after missing out against Liverpool, but the most exciting piece of news for fans and neutrals alike is that Xherdan Shaqiri is set to make his debut after a £12 million move from Inter Milan.
Danny Rose returns following a slight injury last weekend as Mauricio Pochettino has a fully fit squad to choose from.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Mason (Bentaleb 69); Chadli, Eriksen, Dembele; Kane (Lamela 63).
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Yet a brief spell of Stoke confidence was quickly replaced by Spurs’ assured passing display in midfield.
