Tottenham forward Richarlison celebrated his first domestic start of the season by heading the opener against Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Brazil international Richarlison capitalised 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 losing league run.
That ambition was dented 58 seconds after the restart when Jamie Vardy fired in from close range at the second attempt to bring Leicester level, with Bilal El Khannouss compounding their opponents’ misery by striking from distance four minutes later.
“They get an overload down the right-hand side and it’s a wonderful cross,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green told BBC Radio 5 Live of Richarlison’s goal.
“The pressure has been mounting. There is nothing Leicester can do. Richarlison cannot miss — it’s a good header.”
Richy 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ZE9rqdKnf9
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 26, 2025
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Richarlison stats
Richarlison has featured in only 10 of his side’s 34 games in all competitions as part of another injury-hit season in 2024/25.
The 27-year-old’s absence has been keenly felt by manager Ange Postecoglou, who has been beset by a string of injuries among his squad.
The former Everton hotshot returned for his first league appearance in almost three months on January 15, featuring for 12 minutes in the 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 opponents.
They fared better against the Foxes, going close a minute before Richarlison’s opener when Son Heung-min’s cross was tipped against the crossbar by goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Bilal in the battle ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/jNRVGulkmd
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 26, 2025
Tottenham vs Leicester
Tottenham won 3-2 at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday – when Richarlison also started – but 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 away in the top flight at rock-bottom Southampton on October 19.
New manager Ruud van Nistelrooy already appears to be under pressure, although his players started brightly at Tottenham before familiar defensive failings saw them fall behind.
Van Nistelrooy’s words at the interval had an immediate impact when Vardy converted from Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s left-wing delivery.
El Khannouss then put the side who had started the day second-bottom ahead, curling in a terrific right-footed effort.
