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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Harry Latham-Coyle

Tottenham keep Premier League title hopes alive with close-fought victory against Leicester

Tottenham kept themselves in the Premier League title race with a 3-1 win over Leicester, who saw Jamie Vardy miss a penalty with his first touch of the game.

Goals from Davinson Sanchez, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min inspired a fourth successive victory which ensures Spurs will finish the weekend within five points of top spot.

Vardy, who was dropped to the substitutes' bench amid rumours of a bust-up with Claude Puel, missed the chance to equalise as his spot-kick immediately after coming on was saved by Hugo Lloris, though the former England striker atoned for it later by turning home to give his side a glimmer of hope.

But Spurs made the game safe at the death when Son scored a breakaway goal, which gave them a 20th win of the campaign and kept them hot on the heels of title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

PA

Team News
 
The team news is in from Wembley.
 
Danny Rose returns to the Spurs starting lineup, with Jan Vertonghen reverting to his customary centre-half spot. Oliver Skipp also earns a start in a remodelled midfield, while Fernando Llorente's crucial cameo against Newcastle sees the Spaniard leading the line again.
 
Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Toby Alderweireld drop out.
Team News
 
Youri Tielemans makes his Leicester City debut at Wembley this afternoon, replacing Wilfred Ndidi in midfield. There is no Jamie Vardy for the visitors, Rachid Ghezzal promoted into the attacking foursome as Claude Puel shuffles his forward pack.
A debut for this man, then, with Monaco loanee Youri Tielemans straight into the Leicester starting lineup.
 
The Belgian has considerable pedigree, debuting for Anderlecht at just 16. While his subsequent move to the principality on the Cote D'Azur hasn't worked out, the classy midfielder is a considerable coup for Claude Puel and Tielemans has the quality to make a positive impact in the second half of the season.
 
Jan Vertonghen performed commendably at left-back against Newcastle last weekend, but a rested Danny Rose returns to combat Leicester's diverse forward threat with Vertonghen back at centre-half.
 
Rose may be keen to impress, with England incumbent Ben Chilwell his opposite number today. Against what looks to be a narrower Spurs system, there may well be space for both Chilwell and the attack-minded Ricardo Pereira.
 
Tottenham have been not-so-quick on the draw this season, with a remarkable record of 19 wins and 6 defeats through 25 games unblemished by points shared.
 
We are, of course, still at Wembley for these fixtures as Spurs put the finishing touches on their new stadium, particularly completing the requisite security tests. The club have another provisional date in mind for the grand opening...
 
Leicester have picked up just a single point from their previous four fixtures, slipping to 12th in the table. Claude Puel is not a popular man in the East Midlands with his dour style of play and questionable sections decisions drawing particularly criticism.
 
A win today would be a huge boost in a stagnating season. Seventh place remains within reach for Leicester despite their poor run, but an uptick in form in the near future is certainly necessary if they are to achieve that goal..
 
The reverse fixture between this pair came early in December on a Saturday night at the King Power Stadium.
 
Goals from Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli secured a 2-0 victory for Spurs against a lacklustre Leicester. No Dele Alli today, but Son returned from the Asian Cup with a goal last week and he'll be a key man again for Tottenham. It seems Son will start up front in conjunction with Fernando Llorente.
 
 
20 minutes until kick-off at Tottenham's not-so-temporary home.
 
Massive opportunity for Oliver Skipp, preferred to the fit again Victor Wanyama in midfield.
 
Jamie Vardy is only on the bench today, despite Claude Puel dismissing rumours of a rift between he and the striker this week. Demarai Gray is expected to operate as Leicester's forward-most attacker. A bold call, particularly given Vardy's strong scoring record against those at the top.
 
Late team news for Leicester:
 
Nampalys Mendy has picked up a knock in the warm-up; Wilfred Ndidi starts. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces his compatriot on the bench.
 
From what I've seen from Leicester in recent weeks, perhaps a blessing in disguise.
"I would like to develop other options than Jamie (Vardy)," responds Claude Puel when questioned on the striker's absence.
 
"I think Demarai (Gray) has good attributes to play this position. He's comfortable with the ball. It is a good opportunity for him and for us."
 
A gloomy, wet and breezy day in the capital.
 
No problems of ice falling from the arch as there were a week ago, but fairly miserable conditions.
 
A lovely round of applause as Emiliano Sala is shown on the big screen at Wembley. 
 
The teams are in the tunnel, and we are almost ready to go...
 
KICK OFF
Harry Winks gets the game underway.
1 minute
 
Demarai Gray does indeed lead the line for Leicester, with James Maddison in behind.
 
Tottenham appear to have returned to the four-man diamond in midfield with Christian Eriksen at the apex behind Heung-Min Son and Fernando Llorente.
2 minutes
 
Tottenham move the ball forward for the first time and the space for Danny Rose is spark.
 
The left-back crosses to the far post from the byline where Kieran Trippier chests and volleys goalwards.
 
Blocked. Spurs corner.
3 minutes
 
The corner is headed to Oliver Skipp on the edge of the box. The youngster hits his half-volley crisply, but there is a line of blue-shirted bodies for him to penetrate and he is unable to do so.
4 minutes
 
Lively start from Tottenham.
 
Kieran Trippier, Moussa Sissoko and Heung-Min Son work a triangle down the right, running Ben CHilwell ragged with Harvey Barnes also doing his best to corral the trio.
 
Harry Maguire shepherds the ball out of play with Son pressing.
6 minutes
 
Both of Tottenham's full-backs are pushing on and looking to get forward, and there seems to be space for the pair with Leicester's wingers failing to track their opponents.
 
A long ball over the top is well chased down by Demarai Gray, out-pacing Davinson Sanchez to Youri Thielemans well-waited clip, but his support is slow and the makeshift striker is forced to look backwards. 
8 minutes
 
A Leicester free kick about 40 yards from goal on the right is poorly defended by Spurs' high-line, Fernando Llorente losing track of Harry Maguire at the far post.
 
Maguire's header forces Hugo Lloris to tip over.

And from the resulting corner Jonny Evans breaks free from his marker and should do more with his header from six yards out.

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