Tottenham Hotspur started their Premier League campaign with a ruthless goal-fest against south coast side Southampton

The Saints took an early lead thanks to a James Ward-Prowse volley in the opening fifteen minutes before surprise-starter Ryan Sessegnon equalised with a header to even the score.

Spurs built on their momentum to take the lead, after a cool-cross from Heung Min Son was enough for Eric Dier to nod the spinning ball to make it 2-1.

From here, Antonio Conte’s side were relentless, capitalising on an own goal by Mohammed Salisu and a technical finish by Dejan Kulusevski to seal a 4-1 victory.

Story of the Match

None of Antonio Conte’s new signings made the starting XI for this home clash. Conte stated to Sky Sports before the match that "the new players are working very well but they need a bit of time to go into our idea of football".

The familiar faces were seen in Tottenham’s Premier League opener, notably both Harry Kane and Son who remain Conte’s attacking focal points despite a busy transfer window. Also included in the side were midfield regulars Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Perhaps a surprise inclusion in Spurs’ starting line-up was Ryan Sessegnon, who started in the right wing-back spot many had assumed new signing Ivan Perisic would start, much to the disappointment of many Fantasy Football managers.

Southampton’s starting XI put their eggs in the new signing basket, relying on former Rangers attacker Joe Aribo who switched the Ibrox for St Mary’s in a deal worth up to £10m.

Also starting for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side was Romeo Lavia. The highly rated Manchester City youth player was deemed good enough for the Saint’s tough opener.

Captain and Saint’s star-man James Ward-Prowse started, with this afternoon’s away fans often relying on the midfielder for his regular goals and his dictation of play for Southampton.

The Saint’s also broke a Premier League record today with their starting XI, with the inclusion of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who becomes the youngest goalkeeper to start in the Premier League at aged 20 years and 167 days old.

Spurs opened the stronger team, with wingbacks Emerson Royal and Sessegnon stretching play to the touchline in typical Conte style, stretching Southampton’s midfield, thus creating space for chances. Tottenham dominated possession and pressed heavily when without possession.

However, it was Southampton’s captain James Ward-Prowse to seal a surprise opener, after the Spurs defence failed to clear an opposition attack.

The ball flew just too-high for Højbjerg, leaving the ball to fall nicely for Ward-Prowse to hammer into the ground and into the back of the net past a helpless Hugo Lloris.

Spurs continued to maintain the momentum however, and after their persistent pressure and possession, they sealed the equaliser after a pinpoint cross from Kulusevski fell onto the head of Sessegnon, who cushioned the ball safely passed Bazunu in the 21st minute.

Just ten minutes later, centre back Dier got low to head the ball past Bazunu again after Son’s whipped ball came into the box, following a corner, to make it 2-1.

Despite the dominance of Conte’s side, Southampton were not without chances in the first half, but Tottenham’s quality was too much for them in the first half.

Spurs had many chances, including Son’s dribbling effort which was blocked by the Saints’ defence as well as Kane’s turn-and-shoot effort nearly meeting the back of the net in the closing seconds of the half to keep Hasenhüttl’s side on their toes.

  • Tottenham at Top Speed

Spurs began the second half exactly where they left off the first, with quality build-up leading to Sessegnon scoring again with a cool finish, only for the officials to wave his effort offside.

Kulusevski thrived throughout the second half following his first half assist for Sessegnon’s opener, with multiple teasing balls into the box and frequent smooth link-up play between the attackers to keep Tottenham’s attack consistent and relentless.

Kulusevski's controlled finished saw the <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/04/arsenal/1118871-top-four-should-be-the-minimum-nigel-winterburn-talks-about-arsenals-season-expectations.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/04/arsenal/1118871-top-four-should-be-the-minimum-nigel-winterburn-talks-about-arsenals-season-expectations.html'>North London</a></strong> side go 4-1 up, spelling the end of any potential Southampton comeback (Photo: Henry Browne/Getty Images)
Kulusevski's controlled finished saw the North London side go 4-1 up, spelling the end of any potential Southampton comeback (Photo: Henry Browne/Getty Images)

 

Southampton’s efforts throughout the second half were often enough, such as Ward-Prowse’s outside-the-box attempt that fell far wide of Lloris’s post. Hasenhüttl’s men lacked the quality of their opposition, who often benefited from the resulting counter attacks.

And benefit they did. After a rapid counterattack led by Emerson Royale, the Brazilian’s hard attempt was too powerful for Salisu to control, fumbling the ball into his own net - the beginning of the end for Southampton in their opening game. 

Conte’s side did not let up, as just three minutes after Southampton’s unfortunate own goal, Kulusevski showed his shining quality again, after a calmly placed finished saw the North London side go 4-1 up, made easier by Southampton’s absent defence.

Southampton were strangled out of the game even in the closing stages, with Spurs constantly pressing their opposition and not giving them a moments rest, nullifying the Saint’s attacking possibilities throughout the match.

Conte subbed on new signings Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma and Clement Lenglet, who did not have too much time to impress, but all looked comfortable in the team and in Conte's system.

Perisic particularly looked lively and offered a lot for the attack.

Even in the closing ten minutes, Tottenham sliced open the Southampton defence with one sharp Kulusevski through-ball to Kane, who laid the ball off to his strike partner Son, who failed to convert.

Tottenham closed the game out with a professional performance, but not before new signing and substitute Yves Bissouma teased the home fans with some of his talent with a decent long-range effort which flew just wide of the post which signalled full time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The sparks of chances ignited by Southampton were extinguished by the tidal wave of Tottenham's class. Conte put on an excellent show for Spurs fans, with title contention not outside their reach this season. 

They have hardly played with their new toys yet either. 

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