Tottenham First-Half Player Ratings vs Southampton: Dominant Display with Five Unanswered Goals

During the first half, we assessed the performances of each Tottenham player, providing ratings on a scale of 1 to 10.

Here’s how they fared against Southampton:

Tottenham Player Ratings vs. Southampton

Fraser Forster: Returning to St. Mary’s, Forster had little to deal with and enjoyed a relatively quiet half.

He’ll be hoping for a similar second-half experience. Rating: 7

Djed Spence: Making his first start for Spurs since signing in the summer of 2022, Spence wasted no time making an impact.

Within the first minute, his brilliant run and incisive through ball set Maddison up for the opening goal.

Spence saw plenty of action on both flanks, contributing effectively in attack. Rating: 8

Archie Gray: Settling well into his center-back role, Gray displayed composure on the ball and strong defensive awareness. A solid showing overall. Rating: 7

Radu Drăgușin: Apart from allowing Armstrong to find space once or twice, Drăgușin handled his defensive duties well and contributed to a stable backline. Rating: 7

Destiny Udogie: Udogie began the match impressively, winning the ball deep in Spurs territory and driving forward to initiate Spurs’ fourth goal.

Unfortunately, he was forced off due to injury just before the half-hour mark. Rating: N/A

Pape Matar Sarr: Starting alongside Bergvall in a double pivot, Sarr showed high energy from the outset.

He then turned on the magic, gliding through the Southampton defense to score Spurs’ fourth goal. Sarr remained lively and influential throughout the half. Rating: 8.5

Lucas Bergvall: In his first Premier League start, the young Swede had a tidy and disciplined performance.

While not overly flashy, his composure and ability to retain possession were commendable. Rating: 7.5

James Maddison: Maddison’s attacking prowess was on full display.

His darting run and clinical finish opened the scoring, and his precise cross set up Son’s goal.

Later, he showcased remarkable skill by curling a shot into the top corner from a tight angle. A near-perfect half for Maddison. Rating: 10

Dejan Kulusevski: Kulusevski capitalized on a loose ball in the box to net Spurs’ third goal within 15 minutes.

He worked tirelessly on the right side, combining effectively with Spence and Porro while creating chances and pressing the opposition. Rating: 8

Dominic Solanke: Solanke had a quiet half and failed to get on the scoresheet despite a blocked attempt that led to Kulusevski’s goal.

While his link-up play was decent, he didn’t contribute much in terms of attacking threat. Rating: 6.5

Heung-Min Son: Sonny added to Spurs’ tally with a composed finish after a deflected Maddison cross landed at his feet.

He consistently threatened down the left, tormenting Walker-Peters and creating several chances.

With six goals and six assists this season, the captain continues to shine. Rating: 9

Substitutes

Pedro Porro: Porro replaced the injured Udogie but had limited time to make a significant impact before the half ended. Rating: N/A

In summary, Tottenham dominated the first half, with standout performances from Maddison, Sarr, and Kulusevski.

Their attacking intent, defensive composure, and seamless transitions earned them a commanding lead.