Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League campaign has reached new lows, with the team languishing in 15th place. While Ange Postecoglou shoulders some responsibility for their dismal performances, the mounting injury crisis within the squad has also significantly contributed to their struggles.
The manager had hoped to build on their European success, including a hard-fought 3-2 win over Hoffenheim, and reverse their fortunes against Leicester City. Despite Leicester’s own poor form under new coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, with just one win in their last 14 league matches, those hopes were dashed as Spurs succumbed to yet another defeat—this time at home.
Tottenham began the match brightly, dominating the first half with confident play. Richarlison, making his first start of the season, opened the scoring with a superb header from a Pedro Porro cross. Son Heung-min also showed glimpses of his form with dangerous runs and attempts, though none found the back of the net.
However, the second half saw Spurs unravel completely. Leicester capitalized on two defensive errors within five minutes, with Bilal El Khannouss punishing Rodrigo Bentancur and Pedro Porro for a costly miscommunication. From that point, Leicester seized control, dictating the tempo and playing efficiently under pressure.
Porro had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the game but opted for a selfish shot instead of crossing, wasting Tottenham’s best chance to salvage a point. As the team’s inconsistency persists, the pressure on Postecoglou grows, raising serious questions about his future.
Here’s how we rated Tottenham’s players in their Premier League clash against Leicester City on Sunday.
Tottenham Starting XI
Antonín Kinský: 6/10
Made some decent saves but struggled to command his area. Couldn’t do much about either Leicester goal and needs more confidence in organising the backline. What happened to the modern sweeper-keeper we saw in his debut?
Pedro Porro: 4/10
Displayed attacking intent with some shots and a key assist for Richarlison’s opener. However, his decision-making let him down late in the game, particularly with a missed opportunity to cross when Tottenham desperately needed a goal.
Radu Dragusin: 5/10
Looked solid in aerial duels but was caught out of position on a couple of occasions. Very poor positioning overall
Ben Davies: 6/10
Steady defensively and offered some presence in set-piece situations. His header in the first half missed narrowly, but he lacked the sharpness needed to handle Leicester’s pace after halftime. Did not show the experience Tottenham needed.
Archie Gray: 5/10
Had a decent start but faded as the game went on. His lack of experience showed in moments where Tottenham needed composure on the ball. Ange should stop experimenting with the youngster
Lucas Bergvall: 6/10
Worked hard in midfield and won several duels. Showed flashes of creativity but couldn’t provide the decisive passes Tottenham needed
Pape Matar Sarr: 6/10
Active in the midfield and had a couple of long-range efforts saved. Was an overall average game as the team failed him
Rodrigo Bentancur: 6/10
His miscommunication with Porro led to Leicester’s second goal, a costly mistake in an otherwise average performance. really needs to rediscover his rhythm after returning from injury.
Heung-min Son: 6/10
Tottenham’s brightest spark in attack, with intelligent runs and dangerous shots. Unfortunately, he couldn’t convert his chances, but his effort and creativity stood out as usual
Dejan Kulusevski: 6/10
Provided good link-up play in the first half and tested the keeper with a decent shot. Faded in the second half as Leicester tightened their grip on the game. Sad to say but has been ball-hoarding a bit too much. The Swede has lost his form
Richarlison: 7/10
Scored a well-taken header to give Tottenham the lead and was a lively presence in attack. Substituted early in the second half, a really bad decision that the fans will surely have a bone to contend with.
Substitutes
Sergio Reguilon: 5/10
The exiled man came on as a substitute but struggled to make an impact. Showed some attacking intent but was booked for a clumsy foul.
Mikey Moore: 6/10
Energetic after coming on but lacked precision in his attempts. His inexperience showed in key moments as he failed to take control of attacking opportunities.
