Tottenham forward Richarlison celebrated his first domestic start of the season by heading in the opener against Leicester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Brazil International Richarlison capitalized on generous defending to meet Pedro Porro’s cross with a brave header to break the deadlock after 33 minutes and put Spurs on course to end their three-match run.
That ambition was dashed 58 seconds after the restart when Jamie Vardy fired home the second try to draw Leicester level, with Bilal El Khannouss compounding their opponents’ misery by striking from distance four minutes later.
“They get an overload down the right and it’s a great cross,” said former England goalkeeper Rob Green BBC Radio 5 Live of Richarlison’s goal.
“The pressure is on. There’s nothing Leicester can do. Richarlison can’t miss – it’s a good header.”
Richy 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ze9rqdknf9
– Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 26, 2025
Statistics
Richarlison featured in just 10 of his side’s 34 games in all competitions as part of another injury-plagued spell in 2024/25.
The 27-year-old’s absence was keenly felt by manager Ange Postecoglou, who was who is dealing with a number of injuries Among his team.
The former Everton hotshot returned for his first league appearance in nearly three months on January 15, scoring 12 minutes in 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
He scored in the 92nd minute on his return to Goodison Park on January 19, but the goal was little consolation as the visitors lost 3-2 to their relegation-threatened rivals.
They started better against the Foxes, going close a minute before Richarlison’s opener when Son Heung-min’s cross was tipped onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Bilal in battle ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/jnrvgulkmd
– Leicester City (@LCFC) January 26, 2025
Tottenham v Leicester
Tottenham won 3-2 at Hoffenheim in the Europa League Thursday – when Richarlison also started – but they have gone six games without a league win, including five defeats.
Leicester are in even worse form, losing their previous seven league games and last winning in the top flight at rock-bottom Southampton on October 19.
New manager Ruud van Nistelrooy appears to be under pressure, although his players started strongly at Tottenham before well-known defensive lapses saw them fall behind.
Van Nistelrooy’s words in space had an immediate effect when Vardy converted from Bobby de Cordova’s left-wing delivery.
El Khannouss then put the side who had started the day two deep in front, bending in a terrific effort down the right.
