Tottenham run riot as Harry Kane scores four to put Leicester to the sword

Leicester 1 Tottenham Hotspur 6: Son Heung-min scored two of his own as Mauricio Pochettino cruised past the old champions

Kane scored four times for the first time in his career (Getty)

The Premier League title may have been sealed, the bottom three consigned to the Championship and the fight for the top four no concern of either side here, but that didn’t stop Tottenham from keeping their foot firmly on the peddle at the King Power tonight. Someone clearly forgot to pass them the memo.

It was a particularly memorable night for Harry Kane, claiming four goals to pull ahead in the race for the Golden Boot with the visitors securing a thumping 6-1 victory to take their points tally to 83 - surpassing Leicester’s own haul as champions last year.

Son Heung-min also found the back of the net, scoring either side of half-time, and while Ben Chilwell pulled one back for the home side, it wasn’t to be enough as Mauricio Pochettino’s side maintained the terrific form that has seen them garlanded with so much praise this season.

Kane overtook Romelu Lukaku as Premier League top scorer (Getty)

The Argentine had said the day before that he has no intentions of leaving Tottenham next season and, in light of tonight’s performance, it was easy to see why as his men set about dismantling their opponents. Quicker, stronger and more intelligent, it was boys against men come the final whistle.

In spite of the limited significance to Thursday’s game, both managers fielded sides that suggested this was anything but a dead rubber.

While Pochettino made two changes to the side that ran out against United, Craig Shakespeare implemented just one to the starting XI that had fallen short at the Etihad five days prior. With senior players in abundance it was clear, then, that the two teams meant business.

And so it showed. For the opening 20 minutes, it was a lively, effervescent affair. The ball was zipped around the plush King Power patch with purpose and direction, both sides enjoying their fair share of possession and chances.

Son made it 2-0 after Kane's opener (Getty)

Leicester’s best opportunity of the first half came after just 10 minutes, with Jamie Vardy latching onto Riyad Mahrez’s neat reverse pass only to fire his stinging shot into the hands of Hugo Lloris. Minutes later, Daniel Amartey followed this up with a deflected strike on goal, which kicked up dangerously off Eric Dier’s out-stretched leg, but the Frenchman once again denied the Foxes.

Tottenham, too, came close. Son was slotted through on goal in the 14th minute but powered his shot high into the stand behind. But with Pochettino’s men fast finding their groove, it wasn’t long before Spurs had their lead.

It was bread-and-butter from the visitors, with Toby Alderweireld sending a long, route one ball over the top to Son down the right flank. After closing in on Kasper Schmeichel’s near-hand post, the south Korean cut the ball back to the incoming Kane who, from three yards out, did the rest. A simplistic but clinical goal that beat the home side at their own game.

Ben Chilwell scored his first goal of the season with a composed finish (Getty)

The next was not so simple, and encapsulated the class and confidence that has characterised this Tottenham side for much of the season.

After a brief back-and-forth from the visitors, it was Alli who eventually picked up play on the edge of Leicester’s box. With his back to goal, the 21-year-old turned effortlessly before lifting the ball into the path of Son. Creator turned goal-scorer, Son caught it first time, guiding the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to hand Spurs a comfy two-goal cushion heading into the break.

Despite the deficit, Leicester refused to roll over. Shakespeare had said before the match that “motivation for these final games has to come from within”. The Foxes duly obliged and were soon rewarded.

After Lloris failed to clear a bisecting through-ball, having rushed 45 yards from his goal-line, Leicester quickly recycled play as the 'keeper desperately scrambled back towards his net.

The ball eventually fell to Chilwell and although it looked as if he had taken too long to act, the youngster showed great composure from the centre of Tottenham’s box to pick out the bottom left corner.

Son has had a fine season at Spurs (Getty)

But Tottenham’s response was swift and punishing. Meeting a simple Victor Wanyama nod-back from the left-hand side of the Leicester box, Kane clinched his second, and Spurs’ third, with the simplest of headers moments after the hour mark. Son then added the fourth with a sublime curled effort from 25-odd yards out, steering the ball past Schmeichel having just lost three of Leicester’s players with a well-executed drag back.

By the time Vincent Janssen was introduced in the 77th minute, Leicester’s motivation and belief had been sapped. Spurs were incessant; their passing slick and on point, their high press overwhelming and their reading of the game far superior to the Foxes.

For the closing 10 minutes it was a matter of damage limitation, but still the Foxes couldn’t hold back the wave of golden shirts that bore down. Janssen looked to have Tottenham’s fifth, tapping in from close range, only for the flag to go up.

Tottenham are guaranteed a best-ever second-placed finish (Getty ) (Getty)

Kane, though, wanted more. With Leicester’s defence in tatters, and the King Power Stadium half empty, the forward added his third and fourth with clean predatory strikes in the closing stages to really rub salt into the home side’s wounds.

It was a farcical capitulation from Leicester and one that reaffirmed the gulf in quality between the old title-holders and a side who, at least on paper, have more than demonstrated their champions' credentials these past few weeks.

Leicester: Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Fuchs, Chilwell; Mahrez, Ndidi, Amartey, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy.

Subs: Musa, Kapustka, Slimani, Zieler, Gray, Wasilewski, Moore.

Tottenham: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Dembele; Sissoko, Alli, Son; Kane.

Subs: Vorm, Wimmer, Lesniak, Shashoua, Eriksen, Nkoudou, Janssen.

Referee: Michael Oliver.