Chelsea played above themselves to deny their North London rivals the win they needed to maintain their pursuit of Leicester City.
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There was therefore less surprise when Pochettino opted to use wing-backs again at Watford today – and again the decision paid off.
Younes Kaboul smuggled home Watford’s injury-time reply with their only shot on target.
But Pochettino may opt for the three at the back formation he employed for the first time in the corresponding fixture against Chelsea last season, which Tottenham won 2-1 just after Christmas in 2015. They could perhaps do with stronger cover for full-backs Kyle Walker and Rose.
They have scored just three goals in the preceding games and their last league win came in 1987.
That was the cue for Spurs to take control against an increasingly ragged-looking Hornets side, and they doubled their lead six minutes later when more hesitant defending enabled Kane to stab home another Tripper cross.
“(Zuniga) was the 10th player to get injured”, said Mazzarri. It is always nice to help the team, whether that is scoring goals or setting them up. One has also witnessed some real goal fests.
The Belgian worldwide is likely to replace Jan Vertonghen at the back as he’ll serve a one-game suspension after collecting his fifth booking of the season at St Mary’s.
When Spurs play their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, the England global striker is invariably forced to lead the line, play on the shoulder and hold the ball up. With only a point standing between them and fourth-placed Arsenal and a game against league-leaders Chelsea on the horizon, the away side simply can not afford a slip-up on New Year’s Eve if they were to stay in the race to finish in the Champions League spots.
The 20-year-old has scored six goals so far this season, and a number of Twitter users were quick to praise the youngster’s assured performance, with one even claiming that Paul Pogba – the world’s most expensive footballer – could learn a thing or two from his display. They face another road trip to Vicarage Road and are odds-on to pick up another maximum to make it four victories on the trot before a blockbuster encounter at home to Chelsea on Wednesday night.
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And Pochettino is adamant it will not only be Spurs fans cheering his players on when they attempt to stop Chelsea’s impressive momentum.
