Dele Alli, Harry Kane run riot as Spurs beat woeful Watford

Tottenham stormed into the Premier League top four with an emphatic 4-1 win over Watford, Harry Kane and Dele Alli both scoring twice.

The injury-ravaged Hornets had little to offer against their rampant visitors, who were 3-0 up by half-time.

Watford were forced into a late line-up change when Juan Zuniga withdrew through injury, replaced in a formation shuffle by Odion Ighalo.

Tottenham were dominant from the first whistle, with Son Heung-min finding himself with plenty of excellent chances he failed to convert; fortunately, Kane and Dele were both more incisive in front of goal, and more ready to take advantage of the fistfuls of defensive errors served up by the Watford back line.

The scoreline was lent a veneer of respectability in added time when Younes Kaboul nudged the ball past Hugo Lloris after the chaotic Tottenham defence failed to clear a free-kick.

Tottenham are now up to third - can they sit tight there for the next few months and cling on to that Champions League spot? Not all opposition will be as easily brushed aside as Watford - and defensive lapses like the one that gave them their consolation can't be tolerated against those better sides. But if you're scoring so freely then perhaps it doesn't matter so much. And let's not entirely rule out a title challenge...

Harry Kane (Tottenham): Took his goals excellently, and put in a marvellous shift tracking back as well. Sheer endeavour.

Watford: Gomes 5, Kaboul 4, Prodl 5, Cathcart 5, Capoue 5, Guedioura 5, Holebas 4, Amrabat 4, Doucoure 6, Ighalo 6, Deeney 6. Subs: Sinclair 6, Kabasele 6, Mason 6.

Tottenham: Lloris 6, Trippier 8, Alderweireld 7, Wimmer 7, Rose 8, Dier 7, Wanyama 7, Eriksen 8, Dele 8, Son 6, Kane 8. Subs: Davies 7, Winks 7, Janssen 7.

27’ GOAL! Watford 0 Tottenham 1 - That was coming. A few seconds after that shot against the woodwork, Trippier plays Kane through, and the striker is thinking and moving quicker than the entire Watford defence, angling it past Gomes.

33’ GOAL! Watford 0 Tottenham 2 - Alli and Trippier combine, and Kane once more bundles in a terrific cross.

41’ GOAL! Watford 0 Tottenham 3 - Watford defence is in complete tatters. Dele Alli is presented with an absolute gift of a limp clearance from Kaboul, and he keeps his head to slot that one home.

46’ GOAL! Watford 0 Tottenham 4 - Dele Alli takes about half a dozen touches too many but it doesn't matter because nobody is marking him. Great ball in from Harry Kane on the right.

90’+1 GOAL! Watford 1 Tottenham 4 - Absolutely laughable from Tottenham as Watford scramble a free kick past Lloris. It's credited to Kaboul, who was actually sitting down as he swung his feet towards the ball.

Dele Alli has now scored three braces in the Premier League (also v Stoke in April 2016 and Southampton in December 2016).

Harry Kane has now scored 59 goals in 100 Premier League games, the same number as Thierry Henry had at this stage.

Tottenham have now won all of their last five matches played on New Year’s Day.