da realsbet： Currently five points off the Premier League’s summit, Tottenham already have some catching up to do if they’re to be serious contenders in this season’s title race. But there’s still 30 games of the season left to go and based on evidence thus far, Mauricio Pochettino’s side aren’t anywhere close to hitting top gear just yet – their Wembley form has been laborious at best and Dele Alli’s yet to truly arrive this season.
da dobrowin： Even with Harry Kane up front though, Tottenham will struggle to match Manchester City for firepower, while Manchester United look set to replicate Chelsea from last season in being the most clinical, consistent and well-rounded outfit in the league.
One area where Tottenham continue to excel, however, is at the back. The Lilywhites have finished the last two seasons with the healthiest goals conceded record in the top flight and they’ll be close contenders for it once again this year, allowing just five goals in eight games so far.
And a key part of that has been summer signing Davinson Sanchez who, despite his young years, is already emerging as a crucial asset in Pochettino’s defensive line. In fact, from the seven games the Colombian international has started thus far, Spurs have kept five clean sheets and conceded just three goals – only two of which were in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old’s influence was clear once again on Saturday as Tottenham ground out a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at home. It wasn’t the most eventful ninety minutes in Premier League history but Sanchez had a big impact, both with and without the ball.
Indeed, the centre-back – who Transfermarkt value at £22.5million – won a whopping six aerial duels and made six clearances, the most of any Spurs player on both fronts. But it was far from an attritional display from Sanchez; he also produced a passing accuracy of 97%, completing the most of any player on the pitch.
It seems that if defensive solidity does put Tottenham back amongst the Premier League’s title contenders, Pochettino’s summer signing from Ajax will be an increasingly important figure throughout the campaign.