Tottenham Hotspur climbed above Arsenal to third in the table as they completed a convincing Premier League double over Norwich City on Tuesday night by winning 3-0 at Carrow Road.
Spurs, who won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline at White Hart Lane on Boxing Day, hit two of their goals in the first 30 minutes, before adding a third in the final moments of the game.
Dele Alli broke the deadlock with a predatory tap-in inside 100 seconds, before the 19-year-old won a penalty, which Harry Kane converted confidently.
Kane then netted again late on, scoring his 15th Premier League goal of the season to leave Spurs +10 ahead of North London rivals Arsenal on goal difference, after the Gunners drew 0-0 with Southampton.
SEE MORE: [Player ratings] Arsenal 0-0 Southampton – Özil on form but Forster phenomenal
Here’s how Mauricio Pochettino’s men rated during their trip to Norfolk…
Tottenham player ratings
GK: Hugo Lloris – 7/10
Made a couple of comfortable saves, as well as a commanding punch during Norwich’s very brief period of dominance.
RB: Kyle Walker – 7/10
Couldn’t afford to have a bad game, with Kieran Trippier having impressed during his four appearances at right-back in January. And Walker didn’t have a bad game. He was strong and calm, and did just enough to remain first choice, for now.
LB: Danny Rose – 6/10
Conversely, Rose probably finds himself marginally behind unused sub Ben Davies as Tottenham’s preferred left-back at this precise moment in time, after only putting in an average display.
Rose, who has started 13 of his side’s 24 Premier League games this season, was booked for time-wasting, shortly before Kane made it 3-0.
CB: Toby Alderweireld – 7/10
Without Jan Vertonghen alongside him for the first league game this season, Alderweireld had extra responsibility on his shoulders. And he handled it well, making 11 clearances and one very important block.
CB: Kevin Wimmer – 7/10
Seen as the weak link in Tottenham’s defence on paper, Wimmer made a mockery of such a suggestion. He conceded three fouls – more than anyone else on the pitch – but he was good in the air and on the ball.
Son Heung-Min was the only Spurs player with a higher pass-completion percentage than Wimmer.
CM: Eric Dier – 7/10
Dier has reached a point where he is almost invisible during games, but in a good way. He is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s unsung heroes – a player who just keeps things tidy, holds his position and makes very few mistakes. Despite his unspectacular contributions, the 22-year-old is a vital cog in the Spurs machine.
CM: Mousa Dembele – 9/10
Talking of machines! Dembele absolutely crushed the competition in what, on paper, should have been a testing physical battle with Youssuf Mulumbu and Alexander Tettey in midfield.
AM: Son Heung-Min – 7/10
Linked up well with his attacking compadres. His passing was sharp and accurate, and he showed good intent with three shots, before being replaced by Tom Carroll (6/10) on 69 minutes.
AM: Dele Alli – 9/10
Demonstrated admirable agility to pounce on a rebound for Tottenham’s opening goal and then won the penalty for Kane with more sharp movement. Alli went off at half-time, because of illness according to The Independent, and Spurs did not look as good without him. But, after being involved in two goals, he deserved his rest!
Dele Alli apparently ill, not injured. Still, a goal & an assist when he’s under the weather. He’s earned a comfortable 2nd half on the bog!
— Robert Summerscales (@robsummerscales) February 2, 2016
Nacer Chadli (5/10) came on for Alli at the start of the second half. The Belgian offered very little going forward, but he held his own defensively, closing down much more than he would have under previous management!
AM: Christian Eriksen – 8/10
Can claim to have provided two assists, as it was his shot which was parried in the build-up to Alli’s goal, while the Dane set up Kane’s second by pinching the ball off Martin Olsson near the halfway line.
Eriksen came off in stoppage time, giving Erik Lamela (N/A) the briefest of cameos – he touched the ball just twice.
ST: Harry Kane – 10/10
Tottenham only have one striker, but he’s a thumping good one! Kane led the line brilliantly, not at all fazed by the pressure his club’s lack of transfer window business has placed upon him.
Kane’s penalty was ice cool, as was his left-footed finish at the death.
Tottenham’s no.10 deserved a second hat-trick of the season, but he was twice denied by the woodwork.