Tottenham Hotspur closed out the calendar year of 2023 with a gritty, ugly, but ultimately consequential 3-1 win over Bournemouth today. It was significant not just because the Cherries were the hottest team in the league, winners of their last six and flying high — but because Bournemouth more or less dominated large portions of this match.
But Spurs got goals from Pape Sarr, Son Heung-Min, and Richarlison and hung on with ten men after Alejo Veliz injured his knee late to secure the victory. Alex Scott scored the only goal for Bournemouth. The win, combined with Arsenal’s 2-1 loss at Fulham, means Spurs start 2024 just three points off the top of the table and one point behind their arch-rivals. Not a bad place to be considering all that’s happened this fall and winter.
But it wasn’t all good news. Veliz appeared to pick up a serious injury that forced Spurs to play the last 10+ minutes with ten men, and Pape Sarr had to be pulled crying after appearing to tweak his hamstring after the first half hour, an injury that could endanger his participation in the African Cup of Nations.
Even so, it’s a win, and you take those even when they’re ugly. Maybe especially when they’re ugly. It’s time to rate the players.
Rate the players from 1⁄2 to 5 stars. If the player doesn’t deserve a rating due to minutes played, DO NOT RANK. I will round the stars up/down to the nearest half-star for the player ratings later this week.
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