Son Heung-min and James Maddison were the stars of the show as Tottenham Hotspur climbed to the summit of the Premier League with a commanding 2-0 victory over Fulham on a memorable Monday night.
Ange Postecoglou’s side continued their impressive unbeaten streak, now spanning nine league matches, courtesy of Son’s early goal and Maddison’s inaugural strike at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following his summer transfer from Leicester.
Tottenham’s triumphant display propelled them ahead of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, opening up a two-point lead at the peak of the league table. A satisfying twist of fate after Fulham had been the only team to defeat Tottenham this season, ousting them from the League Cup via a penalty shootout in August.
This impressive run of form has ignited dreams of a Premier League title for the North London club, a feat they haven’t accomplished since Bill Nicholson’s famous 1961 double-winning side. While clinching the title remains an ambitious target, particularly given their lack of major silverware since 2008 and the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, the influence of Australian manager Ange Postecoglou cannot be overstated.
Postecoglou’s arrival followed a tumultuous period for Tottenham, marked by poor results and unimpressive performances under Antonio Conte last season. However, his pragmatic approach, down-to-earth personality, and emphasis on attacking football have endeared him to fans and players alike.
Monday’s victory marked a significant milestone for Postecoglou, who now holds the record for the most points accrued by a new Premier League manager in their first nine matches, surpassing previous records held by Mike Walker and Guus Hiddink.
The manager’s next challenge is to prepare his team for a rapid turnaround, with a London derby against Crystal Palace slated for Friday.
The match itself reflected Tottenham’s dynamic and enterprising form under Postecoglou. Son Heung-min came close to scoring early on, with Bernd Leno making a smart save to deny his close-range shot.
James Maddison, who had provided the highest number of assists in the league this season leading up to the match, nearly added to his tally with a free-kick that was volleyed over by Micky van de Ven.
Fulham threatened to upset the balance when Joao Palhinha’s header was brilliantly parried to safety by Guglielmo Vicario.
Tottenham’s persistence paid off in the 36th minute as Son capitalized on a defensive error to curl in a fine finish, scoring his seventh goal of the season.
Just nine minutes into the second half, Tottenham sealed the victory with a well-crafted goal. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg intercepted a wayward clearance and set up Son, who calmly provided the final pass for Maddison to slot home from ten yards.
While Harry Kane’s departure had raised concerns about Tottenham’s stability, the tandem of Son and Maddison has proven to be a dynamic partnership almost as potent as Son’s previous pairing with the England captain.
The convincing win cements Tottenham’s place at the top of the Premier League and rekindles hopes of a potential title challenge, making Ange Postecoglou’s tenure a refreshing chapter in the club’s recent history.
(AFP)
