Eriksen’s Double Sinks Stoke
Mauricio Pochettino says it will be “fantastic” for Tottenham’s new stadium to stage Champions League football in its first season after Christian Eriksen’s double saw them beat Stoke.
Spurs took a big step towards securing a top-four finish with victory at the relegation-threatened Potters – their sixth successive Premier League win.
The north London side are level on points with third-placed Liverpool and 11 ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea, who host West Ham on Sunday.
Spurs, who are using Wembley for home games this season, are due to move to their new ground for 2018-19, and manager Pochettino said: “To have the opportunity to play in the Champions League in the new stadium will be a fantastic achievement.
“For us it would be a massive achievement to finish top four for a third time.”
Mauricio Pochettino satisfied by ‘solid’ Spurs performance
Stoke frustrated their opponents before Eriksen fired Spurs into the lead from inside the penalty area after Dele Alli’s pass.
Mame Biram Diouf equalised after a mistake by keeper Hugo Lloris, whose attempted clearance cannoned off the Stoke striker and fell kindly for Diouf to roll the ball into the net.
In an entertaining match, Eriksen scored the winner from a free-kick before Xherdan Shaqiri was denied a late equaliser when his free-kick hit the bar.
