The infamous Giorgio Chiellini clip began doing the rounds on social media once again when Spurs’ EFL Cup journey ended with a penalty-shootout loss to Fulham in the second round, which closed off one avenue to a long-awaited trophy, and Postecoglou’s side fell behind with just four minutes on the block against Burnley to Lyle Foster’s strike.
However, Son Heung-min’s delicate chip and a Cristian Romero thunderbolt turned the game on its head before the break, and the former completed a heroic hat-trick in the second half after the effervescent James Maddison had picked out the bottom corner with aplomb.
Josh Brownhill doubled Burnley’s tally for the afternoon with seconds remaining, but there was no raining on the Tottenham parade as Spurs made it 10 points from a possible 12 in the 2023-24 Premier League season, cementing a second-placed standing in the table as a result.
Having scored at least two goals in all of their Premier League games under Postecoglou so far – 11 in total to be exact – Tottenham have only been bested on the points tally by Manchester City, while Brighton & Hove Albion are the sole team to net more times than the Lilywhites with 12 efforts to their name.
With hitherto struggling midfielders being given a new lease of life and old faces in attack shining, Spurs could hardly be in a better position heading into their first North London derby at the Emirates on September 24, while a mouthwatering home clash with Liverpool is also on the menu at the end of the month.
Everton number one Jordan Pickford was both Sheffield United’s best friend and worst enemy at Bramall Lane two weeks ago, as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the Toffees’ first Premier League goal of the season before Cameron Archer’s crisp finish restored parity for the Blades, who then went ahead thanks to an enormous stroke of luck.
A second Archer strike hit the post before cannoning into the net off Pickford’s back – akin to Emiliano Martinez’s own goal versus Arsenal back in February – but Arnaut Danjuma crashed home at the back post to level the scores for Everton, who were then indebted to Pickford for an unbelievable double save to deny Oli McBurnie right at the death.
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While Paul Heckingbottom’s side were left to rue what could have been, one point was still an improvement on their first three Premier League fixtures, and the 17th-placed Blades are keeping their heads above water for the time being thanks to the goal difference column.
Sheffield United and Spurs can also empathise when it comes to early EFL Cup eliminations, as the Blades succumbed to Lincoln City’s 12-yard superiority before clinging on for a point against Everton, and four of the visitors’ last five competitive away matches have now ended in defeat.
Spurs also strolled to a pair of 3-1 and 4-0 wins over Sheffield United during the 2020-21 Premier League season before the Blades’ demotion, but the Lilywhites were condemned to another year without silverware by Heckingbottom’s side only six months ago, as an Iliman Ndiaye strike knocked Tottenham out of the FA Cup in the fifth round.
