Tottenham Hotspur are off to a fantastic start in the Premier League, destroying newly promoted Burnley after being on the wrong end of a two-goal comeback last Wednesday.
Tottenham got off to a flying start in the Premier League, putting three goals past Martin Dubravka.
Spurs did not look overly convincing in the first half, but managed to reach the interval with a one-goal lead. The second half bore more fruit, as Thomas Frank celebrated his first competitive win with his new club.
Here are the three winners and losers from Tottenham’s season opener:
Richarlison could become the first-choice striker at Tottenham
If the media had their way, Richarlison would be kicking a ball around somewhere in either Turkey or Saudi Arabia. However, the Brazilian forward has remained focused on his Tottenham career and his perseverance has been rewarded.
Richarlison was the standout man for Spurs today. He put his team ahead early and scored a brilliant goal in the second half, which might just end up being a contender for goal of the season.
The 28-year-old was very good against PSG, but not so much for his attacking threat. However, it was his quality in front of goal which allowed him to steal the show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Richarlison will certainly have his sights set on becoming Frank’s permanent first-choice striker. With Spurs yet to sign another centre-forward this summer, his chances are looking increasingly promising.
Mohammed Kudus delivers again for Spurs
Finding a winger who consistently performs each week has been an issue for Tottenham over the past few years. Lauding Mohammed Kudus as consistent after only a few games might be premature, but he has looked phenomenal almost every time he has worn lilywhite.
Today was no different, as Kudus twice assisted Richarlison and was Tottenham’s most creative player on the pitch. His partnership with Pedro Porro has definitely made Spurs look stronger on the right flank.
There were some concerns when Kudus joined Tottenham, because his second season at West Ham was underwhelming when compared with his first. However, if he continues to play at his current level, the sky is the limit.
Lucas Bergvall is back to his best
Missing a first opportunity to compete in a European final due to injury is a cruel blow. To then be given no more than stoppage time to make an impact in the UEFA Super Cup must be a huge frustration.
However, Lucas Bergvall has not complained. Instead, he delivered an energetic performance and helped Spurs to a comfortable victory. In fact, he almost put Tottenham ahead within the opening minute of the match.
The Swedish teenager contributed in defence, and his dribbling and passing were on point against Burnley. There is plenty of competition in the Tottenham midfield, but if Bergvall stays grounded and keeps delivering, he should be handed plenty of minutes this season.
Now, let’s take a look at the three losers from Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Burnley.
Dominic Solanke once again started on the bench
Dominic Solanke was not clinical enough last season, but few would have predicted he would lose his first-team spot at Tottenham, unless a new striker was signed.
However, with Richarlison putting in another top-class performance, the Englishman could be seeing a lot more of the bench this season. After all, Richarlison is already just seven goals away from Solanke’s goal tally last season, with 37 league fixtures still to play.
Of course, Tottenham are competing in four different competitions, so even if Solanke is second choice, he will still have his moments to impress Frank. If he wants to avoid this consolation prize and resume his position in the starting lineup, he needs to find a way to be a bigger goal threat.
Yves Bissouma could still be sold by Tottenham
Despite being left out of Tottenham’s UEFA Super Cup squad for disciplinary reasons, Thomas Frank said Yves Bissouma would be in Tottenham’s squad to face Burnley. However, the midfielder did not appear on the Spurs team sheet, which could indicate he no longer has a role to play at the club.
Bissouma had a strong finish to last season, but his time at Tottenham has largely been underwhelming. With Joao Paulinha now an option for Frank, the 28-year-old may no longer be needed.
The Malian’s contract expires next summer, so a move before the transfer window ends would make perfect sense.
Wilson Odobert had to settle for a 10-minute cameo
Mathys Tel was preferred to Wilson Odobert on Wednesday night, as a replacement for Kudus. Today, the Frenchman again found himself on the bench, as Kudus claimed the right wing role, while Brennan Johnson operated on the left.
Despite a poor performance in the first half, Johnson got himself on the scoresheet in the second, which would have done Odobert no favours.
Even though the 20-year-old impressed in pre-season, it does not look like he will be starting many matches in the Premier League. This is unfortunate, because Odobert looked like one of Tottenham’s most positive players across their summer friendlies.