Tottenham made the most of their rivals slipping up as Heung-min Son scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Aston Villa.
With Manchester United and Arsenal both losing earlier in the day, the chance was there for Spurs to take control of the Premier League top-four race and take a big step towards securing Champions League football.
They did just that, as Heung-min Son netted a superb hat-trick and Dejan Kulusevski also got himself on the scoresheet. There were plenty of troubling moments in the first-half for Spurs, but they came through them before taking complete control through their front three.
It takes them three points clear in fourth, having played a game more than Arsenal. That much for the Gunners is away to Chelsea though, and the north London rivals meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later in the season.
It took less than three minutes for Spurs to take the lead as they made the perfect start. Harry Kane’s scuffed volley bounced off Matty Cash and fortuitously into the path of Son, but there was nothing lucky about the finish as he swept the shot off the inside of the post and into the bottom corner.
For the rest of the first-half, Villa were utterly dominant, but a combination of Hugo Lloris and poor finishing kept them behind.
Jacob Ramsey drifted past a couple of challenges and into the box, and his shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Lloris. The Frenchman then kept John McGinn’s long-range strike out, before Danny Ings sent a tame volley straight at him.
Ollie Watkins headed over from close range and Ings then missed arguably the biggest chance. A cross was flicked on by Tyrone Mings perfectly into the striker’s path, but he scuffed an effort into his standing foot and it dribbled wide.
There was still time for Cash to have a volley saved, and Lloris to then just about stop a Philippe Coutinho free-kick crossing the line on the verge of half-time.
In absolutely ruthless fashion, Spurs doubled their lead five minutes after the break to take control. Kane flicked on a long ball into the path of Kulusevski, who from a tight angle inside the box rifled a left-footed strike into the far corner.
That stunned Villa, after their superb first-half showing, and it could have been three for Spurs soon after had Son not taken a heavy touch that allowed Emi Martinez to rush off his line and gather the ball.
Son made up for it though with 25 minutes remaining to get his second of the match and put the result beyond doubt. As ever Kane was involved, flicking on the ball perfectly for his teammate and Son made no mistake when clean through on goal.
Five minutes later, the match-ball was secured. Son flicked it through to Kulusevski, who got to the byline and played the ball back into the path of the South Korean who found the far corner with the help of the woodwork.
Those first-half struggles looked a world away, as Spurs’ free-scoring nature continued and it is Antonio Conte’s side who look well on course to secure Champions League football next season.
