With 61 minutes gone at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Cole Palmer buried his first penalty kick of the game to make the score 2-2, Marc Cucurella could be seen banging himself violently in the head with both hands close to the left touchline, curls flying cinematically, like a loveable dog in an advert for floor detergent.
When Palmer scored his sublime top‑corner zinger against Southampton last week Cucurella had clenched his fists and howled, thrusting his hips pomp‑rock style. Palmer clearly has a visceral effect on him. And the afternoon belonged to both men here, a 4-3 come-from-behind London derby win dominated by the twin qualities that mark out Enzo Maresca’s team – while he will of course deny it – as genuine title contenders.
