THINGS WE LEARNED as Spurs hit five past Lion City Sailors in friendly

Richarlison’s second-half hat-trick helped Tottenham comfortably beat Lion City Sailors in a friendly in Singapore on Wednesday – but only after their opponents had taken a shock lead.

It was a vital test for Ange Postecoglou’s side, especially since their weekend clash with Leicester City was postponed due to the weather.

Harry Kane scored a penalty in first half stoppage time, before being replaced at the break by Richarlison, who secured his hat-trick in added time at the end of the match. Another substitute, Giovani Lo Celso, scored the other for Spurs.

Spurs are just two and a half weeks away from the start of the Premier League season, although matters on the pitch face being potentially overshadowed by owner Joe Lewis being indicted in the US for ‘brazen’ insider trading. 

Here’s Mail Sport‘s Matt Barlow with five things we learned from Tottenham 5-1 Lion City Sailors: 

Richarlison came off the bench at half-time to score a hat-trick in Spurs’ 5-1 win on Wednesday

But the early goal – and some of the performances – are a nightmare for Ange Postecoglou

Pedro Porro, the luxury at right back

Ange Postecoglou is determined to play with flair and said he was happy for his full backs to attack. 

Yes, he said on the eve of this friendly, he thought attack-minded pair Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie could operate successfully as his full backs in a back four. 

After 14 minutes, however, came another example of Porro’s frailties when defending the ball at the back post. 

He wasn’t the only one at fault for the goal. It was a chain of errors. Ben Davies was tempted out of central defence chasing a mistake and Udogie did not stop the cross from the right. 

But it was Porro’s reluctance to engage and mark enabling Shawal Anuar to put the Lion City Sailors in front, marking another grim low for Spurs as they failed to find a way through the team from the Singapore Premier League until the last kick of the first half.

Pedro Porro’s showing at right back was a grim performance, leading to the opening goal

Conversely, Pape Matar Sarr has emerged as one of the most effective players for Spurs

Emerging Pape Sarr

All the usual caveats about preseason friendlies and glorified training sessions may apply, but Senegal international Pape Matar Sarr has looked the part on this tour. Sarr was as effective as anyone in the first half against the Sailors. 

He is not always perfect in possession but mobile and covers the ground, providing important balance if Postecoglou intends to stick with a midfield three featuring James Maddison or Giovani Lo Celso on the left. 

Sarr on the right caught the eye, clipped the bar with a volley in the first half and won the penalty from which Harry Kane equalised with the last kick of the first half and last kick of the tour. 

At 20 years old he needs to play this season to kick on, whether that is on loan or at Tottenham. 

HT Drillmaster Ange

Postecoglou made 11 changes at half time, conscious that the cancelled game against Leicester on Sunday in Bangkok will leave some players short on game time. 

This did not stop him squeezing more work out of his players. Those who played the first half, rather than retire to the dressing room at half time, were thrown straight into a gruelling warm-down, featuring long runs from the edge of one penalty areas to another. 

As players sank to their knees at the end, there were echoes of Antonio Conte’s infamous running session last summer in South Korea, and concern when Yves Bissouma stayed down and required treatment before limping off.

Postecoglou changed everyone at half-time, bringing hat-trick hero Richarlison off the bench

Richarlison hungry for goals

Postecoglou has started both friendlies on this tour with what might be loosely termed in the circumstances to be his strongest team. In both games, his teams have performed better, and looked more cohesive, during the second halves. 

Partly, taking advantage of tiring in opposition, especially against the Lion City Sailors, but Richarlison seized the chance to find the net and restore some of his lost confidence. 

The Brazilian converted a rebound following an Ivan Perisic shot to put Spurs into a 2-1 lead and celebrated with his pigeon impression. Then he nodded in his second to stretch the lead after a defensive mistake. 

Twice denied by offside flag, but finally he completed his hat-trick. And goals for a centre-forward never hurt. 

Playing for a move

For the second time on this preseason tour, Ivan Perisic produced an impressive shift on the left of Postecoglou’s front three.

Ivan Perisic and Giovani Lo Celso had strong showings despite rumours of their departures

Perisic never really seemed to get up to the pace of the Premier League in his first season at Tottenham, playing mostly as a wing-back for Antonio Conte. 

He has been told he can leave if the right move comes up. Maybe he’s playing for a move because he looks far more effective than he did. Maybe he is happier in this role. Maybe it’s simply the deception of preseason.

Giovani Lo Celso is another who has shone, with two goals and the sort of quick-release forward passes from the left of midfield that set the brisk tempo Postecoglou demands. 

There have been reports from Spain to say the new boss likes him and wants him to stay, and some think he has returned this season with more focus, a little happier, even.