Tottenham Hotspur moved level on points with third-place Liverpool courtesy of a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium this afternoon.
Stoke had conceded 17 goals in their previous four encounters with Spurs but made it to the interval at a stalemate and missed the best chance through Mame Biram Diouf.
Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half with a confident finish from Dele Alli's cutback, only for Hugo Lloris to gift Stoke an immediate equaliser when his clearance struck Diouf in the face and fell into the path of the dazed striker to slot into an empty net.
On his return to the starting lineup after an ankle injury, Harry Kane thought that he had restored Tottenham's lead shortly after, but the goal was actually awarded to Eriksen whose free-kick delivery from wide on the left evaded everybody in the box and snuck beyond Jack Butland at the far post.
Relive how the action unfolded in the Potteries with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Second from bottom in the Premier League and winless in eight, the last team that Stoke City would want to see park up outside the bet365 Stadium is Tottenham Hotspur, who have dealt out a series of thrashings on the Potters in recent years and are on the back of a big win over Chelsea...
STOKE: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins-Indi, Pieters; Allen, Badou; Bauer, Shaqiri, Ramadan, Diouf
Subs: Haugaard, Zouma, Cameron, Ireland, Fletcher, Crouch, Campbell
Subs: Haugaard, Zouma, Cameron, Ireland, Fletcher, Crouch, Campbell
SPURS: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane
Subs: Vorm, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Lamela, Lucas, Llorente
Subs: Vorm, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Lamela, Lucas, Llorente
After a speedier than expected recovery from an ankle injury, which continued with a 25-minute cameo at Stamford Bridge last weekend, Harry Kane is back in the Spurs starting lineup as he aims to chase down Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race. Kane (24) is currently five behind the Liverpool man.
Erik Lamela drops out of the front four with Son Heung-min reverted to his favoured left-wing role.
Mauricio Pochettino has also freshened things up elsewhere after the high intensity of the London derby, swapping his full-backs as Serge Aurier and Danny Rose come in for Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies. Victor Wanyama makes just his fourth start of the season in midfield as Eric Dier is rested to the bench.
Fernando Llorente is back on the bench but there is no place in the squad for Toby Alderweireld, who seems to be heading for the exit door in the summer having fallen out of favour amidst injuries and a contract dispute. Davinson Sanchez continues as Jan Vertonghen's new regular defensive partner.
Tottenham's goalscorers at Chelsea - Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen - will be looking to pick up where they left off against a team whom they have combined for five goals against in four outings.
Stoke are unchanged from the side which held Arsenal for 75 minutes before their late capitulation at the Emirates Stadium. Erik Pieters is back in favour at left-back after disciplinary problems, while Mame Biram Diouf gets the nod ahead of former Spurs striker Peter Crouch as the lone frontman.
Darren Fletcher and Kurt Zouma are back on the bench for the Potters, who remain without Charlie Adam because of suspension and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting due to a hamstring strain.
Having originally excelled as a full-back upon his January arrival from the Bundeliga, Moritz Bauer is once more utilised in a more advanced position down the right, with Ramadan Sobhi on the opposite flank. Stoke's main creative threat will though of course come through Xherdan Shaqiri.
RESULT: This lunchtime's Merseyside derby will not be one to revisit in the archives of this famous fixture, as it has just ended 0-0 with Everton unable to capitalise on an understrength Liverpool. That means victory for Spurs will lift them level on points with the third-place Reds.
Tottenham's historic triumph at Stamford Bridge - their first in 28 years - has given them an eight-point cushion on the Blues and almost consolidated a third successive season in the Champions League. Pochettino's men might now have the eyes on matching last season's second-place finish.
STAT: The Lilywhites are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League - 13 games, including 10 wins, and they are the only side yet to lose a top-flight match in 2018. After the Chelsea victory, they have won five consecutive Premier League matches for the first time this campaign.
Spurs have won their last four Premier League games against Stoke by a four-goal margin, which is a top-flight record. Their 17 goals in that period have incluced a whopping eight for Kane.
This is Tottenham's fourth consecutive away game in all competitions, and in each of the previous three a different player has scored twice - Son Heung-min against Bournemouth, Christian Eriksen versus Swansea and Dele Alli at Chelsea. Could it be Harry Kane's turn today?
Kane is up against statistically the weakest Stoke defence of the last decade. Their 61 league goals conceded this season is the most they have shipped in a single campaign since promotion in 2008.
Although they have tightened up slightly under Paul Lambert - keeping three clean sheets in nine games after 14 without one - the Potters have only won once since the Scotsman took over from Mark Hughes, and that was in his debut match against Huddersfield Town back in January.
Considering that form, it is little surprise that Stoke have sunk to 19th in the table, three points from safety. A Crystal Palace win at Bournemouth today could leave them six points adrift.
However, Lambert is upbeat that Stoke can compete against the best teams in the division.
He is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "I know I'm up against a good side with a great manager behind them, but it's a game we can win. Even against Man City we had a reasonable game and never got really cut open. We never got downbeat after the game."
Here is a reason for Lambert to be downbeat - he has lost all four of his previous Premier League home games against Spurs - one with Norwich and three with Aston Villa, including a late defeat at Villa Park which Pochettino has since claimed saved his job in his first season as Tottenham boss.
With Diouf having been an injury doubt, Crouch may have been hoping for a start against his former club. The 37-year-old started his career at Spurs and later returned for a two-year spell in which he scored 24 goals, including famous ones against Manchester City and AC Milan, at the San Siro.
Crouch has scored 12 Premier League goals against sides he has previously played for in the competition - only Nicolas Anelka has more (18). However, the former Liverpool, Southampton and Portsmouth striker is yet to score in eight games against Spurs since leaving them for Stoke in 2011.
At the other end of the pitch, Jack Butland might be in for a busy afternoon, but that could play into his hands as he aims to impress Gareth Southgate and establish himself as England's number one. Jordan Pickford has already laid down a marker with a couple of great saves for Everton today.
Another player who will be looking to catch Southgate's eye is Dele Alli, who only got 20 minutes in England's recent friendlies but gave a reminder of his class and big-game potential with his double against Chelsea - his first league double since another against the Blues in January 2017.
Around 10 minutes until kickoff at the bet365 Stadium, where Spurs have won as many Premier League games as any other team. Only Chelsea can match them with six wins at Stoke.
This comparison reflects pretty well on Shaqiri, who matches the in-form Son in most categories apart from goals. At times the Swiss has been a one-man attacking force in recent weeks and might have a transfer request filed and ready if things do end badly for the Potters this season.
Elsewhere in the Premier League this afternoon, Bournemouth, Brighton and West Brom entertain Crystal Palace, Huddersfield and Swansea in big games at the bottom of the table, while Newcastle travel to Leicester. In mid-table, Watford play host to Burnley. Keep up with the live scores here.
And of course later today, Man City could wrap up the title against Man United at the Etihad.
All of those games will observe a minute's silence, and the players wear black armbands in tribute to Ray Wilkins, after the loved and respected ex-England captain died this week aged 61.
PREDICTION: Stoke have been Tottenham's whipping boys in recent years and with Kane back in the team today and on the hunt for the Golden boot I do not see that changing today. The Potters don't possess the attacking threat to trouble Spurs and I expect them to lose 2-0.
KICKOFF: We are underway in the Potteries with Spurs in their alternative all-blue strip...
As you might expect, Tottenham are seeing most of the ball in the early stages. Stoke are content to lump it long whenever they get it, which is strange with Crouch rooted to the bench.
Dembele skips past Allen on the edge of the box but is halted in his stride by an excellent tackle by Badou N'Diaye, whose effort has got the crowd on their feet. The Potters need the famous bet365 atmosphere to be at its white hottest today to try to unsettle one of the best teams in the country.
Kane makes a run into the right channel and whips his foot around a cross but it is ahead of Son at the back post. Alan Shearer always said that striker's are the best crossers of the ball, because they know exactly where they want the ball, and Kane has proven this with some fine assists this term.
After his mistake to gift Alvaro Morata the opening goal last weekend, Hugo Lloris endures another nervy moment when he spills a Stoke corner, only to gather it at the second attempt.
Badou has been touch tight to Dembele so far and he has not allowed the game-dictating Belgian to get into his rhythm. One Spurs player who does manage to find space is Son from a Kane flick-on, but Shawcross stands up well and blocks a left-footed shot from the South Korean.
CHANCE! Stoke will be pleased with the start they have made and they probably should have been rewarded with a goal here, when Ramadan feeds Pieters on the overlap and he cuts a great cross back for Diouf who blazes high over the crossbar from all of eight yards out.
Referee Graham Scott awards Stoke a free kick on the right touchline for an apparent foul by Rose on Bauer, but the cross from Shaqiri is too deep and it goes straight behind for a goal kick.
At the other end, Eriksen has an opportunity to deliver from a similar position but he cannot produce the same quality as he did last week as he only succeeds in finding Butland's gloves.
LATEST: We have our first Premier League goal of the day, and finally Jonjo Shelvey has his first goal of the season to put Newcastle one up at Leicester. Are you watching Gareth Southgate?
Eriksen is over another set piece, this time on the left and tries one of those cross-cum-shots curling in to the back post - you know the ones I mean. There was neither the bend nor the accuracy on his effort though and it sails harmlessly over Butland's bar.
A lovely stepover from Dembele sets up a promising Spurs attack as Aurier gets forward down the right. The Ivorian fizzes the ball across the box but Martins-Indi gets it clear.
SAVE! Spurs cut Stoke open for the first time as Alli juggles with the ball brilliantly before lifting it into the path of Son who is one-on-one with Butland. The Potters goalkeeper keeps himself big as makes a crucial block as the winger tried to slide the ball through his legs.
Son's greediness nearly cost Spurs their third goal against Chelsea and here the South Korean holds onto the ball too long when Alli was free to his right, allowing Badou to make a good tackle.
Ramadan dribbles past Wanyama on the left byline with some impressive skill and wants a penalty when he throws himself to the floor, but the Kenyan midfielder barely laid a finger on him.
Spurs make a mess of a good free-kick position when they take it short to Aurier, who soon gets a chance to deliver again from open play with Martins-Indi again in the right place to intercept.
YELLOW! Alli has been in the wars in the last couple of minutes and is caught on the shin on the edge of the box by Pieters, who receives the first yellow card of the game. The fall from Alli was pretty theatrical but he was caught by the Dutch defender.
Kane plays a deft chip over the top for Alli whose touch lets him down as he enters the box.
LATEST: Huddersfield briefly trailed at Brighton but have bounced back to level at 1-1 through Steve Mounie. That is a massive game for the Terriers with some very tough fixtures to come.
Paul Lambert will be pleased with how things have gone so far but reaching half time still at parity is a big checkpoint for them. It isn't quite happening for Spurs in the final third at the moment.
It has been a quiet first half from Shaqiri but he shows a glimpse of his talent there with a cheeky nutmeg on Sanchez on the left of the box, with the pass just behind the underlapping Pieters.
Aurier has been Tottenham's biggest attacking threat so far and gets into another great position, but he cannot direct Son's layoff past the first man. The Ivorian's delivery must be better.
As he did spectacularly last Sunday, Eriksen tries to make something happen out of nothing with a shot from distance which Pieters gets in front of before it can trouble Butland.
Shaqiri tries to swing a corner on top of Lloris but gets too much behind it, sending the ball straight behind.
HALF TIME: STOKE 0-0 SPURS
So far, so good for Stoke who get into half time goalless with Spurs, a team which has taken them to the cleaners in recent years. The hosts also had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Mame Biram Diouf could not control his 12-yard effort from Erik Pieters cutback.
LATEST: Here at the half-time scores from the Premier League: Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace, Brighton 1-1 Huddersfield, Leicester 0-1 Newcastle, Watford 0-0 Burnley, West Brom 0-0 Swansea.
It has not been the comeback that Harry Kane would have been dreaming of last night. The Spurs striker has been short of service for a change, with Eriksen drifting through the first half pretty quietly. Aurier has been Tottenham's best outlet but his final ball has been lacking quality.
BENCH WATCH: After initially lumping it long, Stoke have been trying to play on the break so it is too soon for Crouch's introduction. Tottenham fans will be keen to see Lucas Moura, who has been very bright in his cup cameos but hasn't had many chances to impress in the league.
This hasn't exactly been unmissable viewing, but this evening's Manchester derby promises to be. Sports Mole will have City's potential title coronation covered from 4.30pm.
KICKOFF: The second half begins with both teams unchanged for now. Diouf gets released down the right channel but gets held up by Vertonghen, and his weak shot is comfortably held by Lloris.
Tottenham have restarted on the front foot and won a couple of free kicks in promising positions for Eriksen to deliver. The Dane's delivery has not been of his usual standard so far though.
Rose takes over set-piece duties and knocks a decent corner to the back post where Wanyama battles with Johnson over a header which goes a few yards wide deflected off the Stoke man.
GOAL! STOKE 0-1 SPURS (CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN)
Spurs make the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half, and it is goals in successive games for Eriksen. It looks like the chance is gone when Alli takes the ball wide and ignores the run of Kane, but Eriksen arrives in the box at just the right time and slots Alli's layoff into the bottom corner.
Rose is back on his feet after taking a heavy blow from Bauer. The England international was down for a while but will be determined to continue after a frustrating time with injury recently.
Kane knocks the ball in behind for Son who is readying to pull the trigger when Shawcross makes a last-ditch tackle. Spurs want a penalty but referee Scott is happy that it was a fair challenge.
GOAL! STOKE 1-1 SPURS (MAME BIRAM DIOUF)
Tottenham's lead lasts only five minutes and it is another calamity for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris! He races off his line to try to clear a cute Shaqiri through-ball to Diouf but only succeeds in clearing it against the face of the striker, who regains his composure to stroke the ball into the empty net.
There was no time for celebrations for Diouf as he went straight to the floor, feeling the effects of that ball to the face. He has been given the all clear to continue by Stoke's medical staff.
GOAL! STOKE 1-2 SPURS (HARRY KANE)
Stoke's parity lasts only as long as their deficit did as Spurs regain their lead. Eriksen's dead-ball delivery has been poor all game but he finally gets one right and Kane glances it past Butland for his 25th of the season. It looked like only the slightest of touches, if any, from the striker, but they all count.
Kane has now scored 25 league goals in a season for a fourth successive season - becoming only the second player to do that after Alan Shearer, the man whose 260-goal record he is chasing.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino responds to going ahead again by introducing the more defensively disciplined Erik Lamela in place of Son, who has spurned a couple of good chances today. Lamela was perhaps unlucky to miss out originally after an excellent performance at Chelsea.
SUBSTITUTION: Stoke make a change of their own as highly-rated young striker Tyrese Campbell - son of former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin - comes on for Ramadan.
There is another goal in this game, I can feel it! Stoke are desperately trying to respond while Tottenham are searching for a third to kill this game off, with Aurier blazing a half-chance high.
Campbell has joined Diouf up front, an alteration which has forced Shaqiri out to the Stoke right. Can he get any joy against Rose, who hasn't completed 90 minutes many times this term?
Kane opens his body up to try to curl a shot into the bottom corner, and the block from Shawcross loops in the air to Alli who cannot generate enough power on his header to trouble Butland.
SUBSTITUTION: Lambert is going for this, bringing on Crouch in place of Glen Johnson, who had picked up a yellow card in this second half. Bauer will drop into right-back.
YELLOW! Aurier is known for having a rash tackle in his game and makes one here to fell Diouf on the edge of the box, with only last man Vertonghen sparing him a red card.
WOODWORK! The free kick is better suited to a right footer, but Shaqiri steps up and whips the ball over and across the wall to the goalkeeper's side. Lloris is beaten but the brilliant effort comes back off the frame of the goal and the bet365 groan in disbelief at their bad luck.
SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino makes a second change designed to help preserve this lead as Dier replaces Wanyama.
CHANCE! Stoke have an outstanding chance to equalise as Badou wins a 50-50 with Dier on the halfway line and releases Diouf, who gets caught in two minds as he drives through on goal and in the end his tame cross aimed towards Shaqiri is intercepted by Vertonghen.
CLOSE! Spurs go down the other end and nearly get a third as Lamela drags a 20-yard shot just wide.
CHANCE! Shaqiri lifts a second ball into the danger zone after Spurs fail to clear a corner and Shawcross, who scored at both ends at Wembley earlier this season, heads wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: Sissoko is on for Spurs as Alli is booed off by the Stoke fans. Not quite sure why....
The stoppage for Diouf's injury means there will be SIX additional minutes. Can Stoke rescue a precious point?
Spurs have an opening to wrap up the points but Lamela dallies on the ball, and Kane's shot is blocked.
Easy save for Lloris as Allen fails to get any power behind his first-time effort from Bauer's cross.
SUBSTITUTION: Lambert throws on Zouma as an emergency striker. Why wait until now to go long with Crouch already on?
FULL TIME: STOKE 1-2 SPURS
Back-to-back away wins for Spurs lifts them level on points with third-place Liverpool, with two-goal Christian Eriksen the match-winner - he has now been awarded Tottenham's second which orignally went to Harry Kane. Stoke perhaps deserved more for their effort but lacked quality in the final third.
You can read our match report from the bet365 Stadium here, and catch up on all of today's Premier League scores here. Then quickly switch over to our live coverage of the Manchester derby as City aim to secure the title with victory over fierce rivals United. Kickoff at 5.30pm - do not miss it!
