Leicester vs Tottenham: Efficient pressing and swift counters see Spurs come from behind to deny Foxes a UCL spot – tactical analysis

There was lots to play for on the final day of the 2020/21 Premier League season, with multiple European places up for grabs. Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool were fighting it out for the last two Champions League spots while Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton all had a chance of making the newly founded Conference League, with even Leeds United having an outside chance of qualification. Leicester had found themselves in a position where they may miss out on the Champions League on the final day for the second time in two seasons while Spurs were in with a chance of saving their largely inconsistent season. In this tactical analysis, we look at the tactics of both Leicester and Spurs from their fixture and our analysis will show how Spurs managed to sort themselves out in order to snatch a crucial 4-2 victory.

Lineups

Both sides went with a relatively strong lineup, with the hosts going with their 3-4-1-2 formation. Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy led the line with James Maddison lining up behind them. Wilfried Ndidi and Youri Tielemans continued their partnership in central midfield with Luke Thomas and Marc Albrighton playing as the wing-backs. Timothy Castagne continued in his role of right centre-back in the back three, a position that he has had to shift to owing to injury to Jonny Evans, and he started at the back alongside Wesley Fofana and Çağlar Söyüncü. Kasper Schmeichel took up his place between the sticks.

For the vistors, Hugo Lloris took his place in goal behind Matt Doherty, Davidson Sanchez, Toby Alderweireld and Sergio Reguilón. Harry Winks and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg started as the pivots with Dele Alli playing as the attacking midfielder. Heung-Min Son and Steven Bergwijn started down the flanks with Harry Kane leading the line in what could have been his final game in a Spurs shirt. Rumours around his departure have been circulating with Kane himself admitting that he is seeking a new challenge, with moves to Manchester United and Manchester City touted this summer.