Tottenham Hotspur’s mixed form under Jose Mourinho continues as they slump to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Sheffield United. The Lilywhites enjoyed the lion’s share of possession. But, a 35th-minute strike from Sander Berge made a considerable difference while second-half goals from Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie meant Harry Kane’s late effort was only a consolation.
Tottenham Hotspur Players Rated Vs Sheffield United
Hugo Lloris 4/10
A miserable evening for Hugo Lloris, who lacked confidence with his claims and clearances. Although he couldn’t have done much to save any of the goals, it was one of those odd games for the Frenchman.
Serge Aurier 3/10
Serge Aurier, as usual, operated much further forward than his designated right-back position. He was miserable in his defending, often finding himself out of position while almost all of his crosses failed to find the target.
Davinson Sanchez 5/10
Davinson Sanchez was quite reliable for the most period of the game. However, the Colombian looked somewhat complacent during the final phase, notably failing to mark the Sheffield United attackers tightly as they sealed all three points.
Eric Dier 3/10
Like Aurier, Eric Dier ultimately struggled to impose his presence in the defensive half. The English international lacked discipline while his marking was equally disappointing. Moreover, his forward passes weren’t accurate enough either as it often found the Sheffield players. Not the best fit in central defence.
Ben Davies 4/10
With Aurier marauding forward, Ben Davies had to play in a deeper role. Unfortunately for the Welshman, defending is his Achilles’ heel. So essentially, he failed to cope with any pressure thrown in by the Sheffield United attackers. His awful form under Mourinho continues.
Moussa Sissoko 4/10
Moussa Sissoko had a mixed first-half. While his energy was indeed commendable, the Frenchman was not the best of outlets going forward. The midfielder does deserve credit for athleticism, but his lack of quality on the ball is just not suitable for Spurs.
Giovani Lo Celso 5/10
Giovani Lo Celso arguably endured his worst game in a Tottenham shirt. The Argentine, despite being one of the most in-form players for the club, struggled to influence the game and break the shackles of the Sheffield defence. Starting him in a particularly deeper role was perhaps the mess up from Mourinho.
Lucas Moura 4/10
It was another disappointing performance from Lucas Moura, who just doesn’t seem to have the quality needed to impress in the Premier League. The Brazilian wasn’t potent in front of goal, and his link-up play was off. His chance creation, in particular, was absolutely wasteful.
Steven Bergwijn 6/10
Steven Bergwijn was one of the most active attackers for Tottenham Hotspur during the first half. He showed great zest and energy to breach the Sheffield United backline. But his influence eventually waned as the opposition started to camp themselves in their half. He was subbed off early in the second half.
Son Heung-Min 6/10
Son Heung-Min was arguably the best attacker for Spurs this evening. The South Korean international was willing to drop deep and make things happen in the final third. But, he lacked proper support and also looked ineffective with his offensive runs.
Harry Kane 6.5/10
Kane virtually had no support at all from his teammates. But, the lack of supply didn’t deter the English international, who scored an excellent goal to equalise things in the first half. Unfortunately, it was called off by the VAR, in what was a somewhat questionable decision. Nevertheless, the striker soldiered on and managed to find the back of the net in the last minute, albeit it was a consolation.
SUBSTITUTES
Erik Lamela 4/10
Replaced Bergwijn in the 56th minute to add more energy and aggression in the Spurs attack. The Argentine showed early promise, but it faded at the end. In fact, he turned out to be quite a liability.
Tanguy Ndombele 5/10
Came on in the 71st minute, replacing Aurier. But, the Frenchman looked weary, which is understandable given his lack of game-time. He does, however, deserve to be included in the starting lineup in the next game, ahead of someone like Sissoko.
Dele Alli 5/10
Came on as a substitute in the final phase of the game and didn’t manage to make an impact on the proceedings.
Jan Vertonghen 5/10
A late replacement for Davies to add more solidity as Spurs seemed more focused on avoiding an embarrassment.
