Tottenham Hotspur continued their impressive form in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, taking them five points clear at the top of the table, their largest-ever lead in the competition.
The game was transformed by the ingenuity of James Maddison, who was instrumental in both of Spurs’ goals.
The first half was a quiet affair, with Tottenham’s attacking flair being stifled by a disciplined Palace defence.
However, the second half saw Maddison step up to the plate, with his mazy run and cross-shot forcing Joel Ward into an unfortunate own goal.
He then showcased his skill in the box, setting up the second goal for the in-form Heung-min Son, who scored his eighth Premier League goal of the season.
Although Maddison missed out on an official goal involvement, his impact on the game was undeniable.
Despite a late surge from the home team, with Jordan Ayew scoring in injury time, Tottenham held on for a crucial victory.
Manager Ange Postecoglou has now accumulated an impressive 26 points from his first 10 games in charge, setting a new record for a debut Premier League manager.
Tottenham’s win puts them five points ahead of their nearest rivals, Arsenal and Manchester City, who play their respective matches over the weekend.
Palace, on the other hand, remain in 11th place and are likely to face a challenging period ahead.
Crystal Palace have struggled in encounters with table-topping teams, failing to win any of their nine Premier League games against such opponents under manager Roy Hodgson.
They have conceded 27 goals and scored just six times across these matches.
Heung-min Son, who scored his eighth goal of the season, is continuing his impressive form for Tottenham.
He also scored nine goals in the first 10 games of the previous season.
The game also saw some individual records being broken.
Cristian Romero completed a record 141 passes in a single Premier League game for Tottenham, while Pape Matar Sarr became the youngest player to appear in each of Spurs’ first 10 games of a Premier League season since Dele Alli in the 2016-17 campaign.
