EPL: Tottenham brush Southampton aside in opener after early setback

Tottenham recovered from an early setback to thrash Southampton 4-1 and make a flying start to the new Premier League season.

Spurs surprisingly fell behind inside 12 minutes of their home opener in the north London sunshine, with Saints captain James Ward-Prowse defying an intense start from the hosts to volley home Moussa Djenepo’s cross from 18 yards.

But Tottenham were not behind for long as the impressive Ryan Sessegnon headed in Dejan Kulusevski’s cross at the back post, his maiden Premier League goal.

What a first Premier League goal feels like 👇 pic.twitter.com/87KsUDouzP

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 6, 2022

We lead at the break 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LI70FOPg6O

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 6, 2022

That was followed 10 minutes later by Eric Dier’s first goal for some three years, with the versatile England international stooping to deftly flick Heung min-Son’s cross beyond Gavin Bazunu, one of three Saints debutants on Saturday along with Joe Aribo and Romeo Lavia.

Gimme gimme gimme a blinder from Sweden 👏 pic.twitter.com/dep1J67763

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 6, 2022

By contrast, Tottenham’s first XI contained 10 of the 11 players who started on the final day of last season, with Richarlison banned and fellow newcomers Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet, Djed Spence and Fraser Forster all on the bench.

But it mattered little as they continued to dominate proceedings, creating plenty more chances to extend their lead by the interval.

It’s good to be back 💙 pic.twitter.com/JxSMkwu1rI

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 6, 2022

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The third goal eventually came just past the hour mark, with Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu comically turning Emerson Royal’s low cross into his own net.

An opening-day rout was wrapped up two minutes later, when the excellent Kulusevski – looking to keep his place in the front three alongside Harry Kane and Son and ahead of Richarlison – got the goal his display fully merited, curling Emerson’s cutback into the far corner.