Tottenham moves to top of Premier League table behind Son Heung-min master class
With a clinical finish and a neat assist, Son Heung-min delivered his best impression of Harry Kane to propel Tottenham back to the top of the Premier League on Monday.
The 2-0 win over Fulham showed once again that Tottenham can thrive without the departed Kane this season.
Especially with Son, the player who has replaced Kane as the team's center forward, in such prolific form.
Both of Tottenham's goals came from the same source — Fulham defender Calvin Bassey giving away possession when passing out from the back under pressure — and Son had a key role in each of them.
In the 36th minute, the South Korea captain was on hand to collect a pass from Richarlison after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg intercepted Bassey's clearance. Son showed great footwork to cut inside, around covering defender Tim Ream, and curl a shot into the far corner from the edge of the area.
The second goal, scored by James Maddison in the 54th, was similar as Hojbjerg again stopped a pass from Bassey reaching its intended target.
Hojbjerg stabbed a first-time pass to Son, whose deft lay-off went into the path of Maddison and the England playmaker slotted home under former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Tottenham regained the two-point lead with which the team entered the weekend and remained unbeaten after nine games, along with north London rival Arsenal.
Kane might be pouring in the goals in Germany — he has nine in eight games for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga — but Son is doing the same for Tottenham since being pushed up front by new manager Ange Postecoglou, having started the season on the left wing.
Son has seven goals, the same as Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and only two behind top scorer Erling Haaland of Manchester City.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
