Tottenham smash four past Stoke to keep up pressure on Leicester

Spurs cantered to a superb 4-0 win over Stoke City in Monday night's Premier League match.

Two goals each from Harry Kane and Dele Alli gave Mauricio Pochettino's men a victory that sees them climb back to five points off Leicester's lead.

The result was most important with the Foxes slipping up, but the performance was a real statement of intent – Spurs are on the march.

The nerves were left behind in north London, as Mauricio Pochettino's men looked in command right from the off against the Potters – who had not lost against a top five side at home this season prior to tonight’s encounter – with Kane once again showing no shortage in confidence when curling a sublime effort past the veteran Stoke debutant Shay Given to give his side the lead early on.

The well-taken opener was Kane’s 44th goal since the start of last season – 10 less than Aston Villa in that time.

Kane and Alli were linking up telepathically once more, and Alli’s flick offered Christian Eriksen the perfect opportunity to put Spurs in control just before the break, but he saw his effort cannon back off the crossbar when clean through.

After the break, Spurs laboured, allowing Stoke to cause them some problems, but form is temporary, class very much permanent, and the second goal was worth the wait.

Kyle Walker showed tremendous desire to head into the path of Eriksen, who disguised a superb pass into the path of Alli, who dinked the ball over the onrushing Given to kill off the Potters’ resistence.

Alli should have added a third soon afterwards, but somehow hit the post after rounding Given - Ronny Rosenthal would have been proud of that – but he soon made amends.

This time, Alli turned provider, as he delightfully caressed the ball into the path of Lamela, who squared for Kane to add a third before the former MK Dons youngster superbly controlled a volley into the bottom corner to complete the rout.

When it really mattered, Spurs put in arguably their best performance of the campaign, and carry on in such imperious manner, a first league title since 1961 could not be out of reach just yet.

Best performance to date? Under the circumstances, to put in a counter-attacking display of such vigour at the Britannia is phenomenal from a side lacking in experience. Kyle Walker and Mousa Dembele were everywhere, Christian Eriksen’s vision was sublime, while Harry Kane and Dele Alli continued to combine with a rhythm rarely seen before. Pressure, what pressure?

Dele Alli. So many candidates, but Alli shades it, despite his astonishing miss. For one so young, the 20-year-old exudes remarkable composure, and given the freedom that Mauricio Pochettino allows, Alli was at the heart of everything. He took his first superbly, controlling the ball and scoring in three touches, at full pace. His clinching goal looked easy, but many would have blasted over from there. Simply awesome.

Stoke: Given 6, Cameron 6, Shawcross 5, Wollscheid 5, Muniesa 5, Whelan 4, Imbula 5, Afellay 4, Shaqiri 4, Bojan 4, Arnautovic 5... Subs: Joselu 4, Adam 4

Tottenham: Lloris 7, Walker 9, Alderweireld 8, Vertonghen 7, Rose 7, Dier 8, Dembele 9, Lamela 8, Eriksen 8, Alli 9, Kane 9... Subs: Mason 6, Chadli 6, Son N/A.

6’ - CHANCE! Kane appears to be offside, but the linesman's flag stays down, his first touch lets him down, and he cannot get the ball out of his feet to get a clean strike away, allowing Given to spread himself to block. Shawcross fell asleep in allowing the England hitman so much room.

9’ - GOAL! Stoke 0-1 Tottenham. Kane gives Spurs the lead with a superb curling effort. Such a crucial strike! Mousa Dembele lays the ball off for Kane, who takes two touches to his right, before curling the ball around a sea of defenders and into the bottom corner from 20-yards. Was very easy for the Spurs striker, but well taken nonetheless.

35’ - CLOSE! Dembele lets fly from distance. He catches it really cleanly, and it just flies wide with Given scrambling to get across. Was some strike.

42’ - SHOULD BE TWO! Eriksen's strike comes back off the crossbar, but he really should have found the net, after being played in by a superb flick from Alli, in the clear, with only Given to beat.

54’ - CHANCE! Another great chance missed by Spurs. Superb lay-off from Eriksen into the path of Alli, who simply has to keep it down to score, but blazes over.

56’ - SAVE! Walker again showing great willingness to get forward, his cross finds its way to Lamela, who elects to shoot when he has other options, and Given blocks well. Kane was screaming for it!

67’ - GOAL! Stoke 0-2 Tottenham. The second was worth the wait, as Alli scores a superb goal to put Spurs in command. What a sublime goal from the title chasers. Walker is again in the thick of it, winning a header, nodding it into the path of Eriksen, who brilliantly disguises the pass into Alli, who takes two great touches and dinks the ball over the onrushing Given.

70’ - EXTRAORDINARY MISS! Somehow Alli doesn't find the net! The England midfielder rounds Given, but hits the post with the goal gaping!

72’ - GOAL! Stoke 0-3 Tottenham. Game over. Kane taps in to make sure of a vital three points. Typical of this vibrant Spurs side. Kane heads a Stoke corner clear, and Tottenham break en masse, Alli sends Lamella clear, and the Argentine unselfishly squares for Kane to tap into the empty net.

82’ - GOAL! Stoke 0-4 Tottenham. Alli puts the Potters to the sword with a superb fourth. Calmness personified. Eriksen is allowed far too much time to carry the ball forward, clip the ball into the path of Alli, who controls his volley brilliantly into the bottom corner to put further daylight between Spurs and the hosts.

Tottenham have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League away matches (W9 D6 L1).

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have conceded just nine goals in their last 13 Premier League matches on the road.

Eight of Dele Alli's 10 Premier League goals have come away from home.

Stoke lost a Premier League home game by four goals for only the second time (0-4 vs Chelsea in Jan 2013).