Real Madrid reportedly preparing world record bid for Tottenham striker Harry Kane

The Saints, whose winless run now stands at 11 matches, drew first blood as Spurs centre-half Davinson Sanchez put through his own net, only for prolific hitman Harry Kane to net moments later with his 99th top-flight goal. Kane’s influence was all but snuffed out in the second stanza, with Mauricio Pellegrino’s side showing they had something to prove to Spurs and the rest of the top flight.

Click the right arrow, above, to see talkSPORT’s Tottenham player ratings. “But it was our mistake to not win the game”.

In fact, they lost to Tottenham less than a month ago in EPL action, a 5-2 thrashing at White Hart Lane where Southampton looked very much like a relegation-threatened side.

The return of the Belgian would provide a welcome boost for the Londoners as there is no doubt Spurs have missed his authority at the back. Harry Kane is, once again, banging in goals and is now the league’s top goalscorer with 20.

Southampton nearly regained the lead just before half-time when Jack Stephens’ header whistled past the post following James Ward-Prowse’s excellent free-kick.

The tempo of the game seemed to slow around the hour mark, perhaps as the conditions started to take their toll on the players.

Kane was then a whisker away from reaching the century milestone as he shot inches wide of the far post in the closing stages. For me, there are worse and weaker teams, but many have qualities of manager or momentum that may give them that bit extra moving forward, unless Southampton do something very soon.

However, Spurs were unable to go on from there and win the game, and Pochettino isn’t especially pleased about it.

For Southampton, nothing was more satisfying than the sight of Mauricio Pochettino hopping up and down on the touchline as Tottenham Hotspur’s final attack petered out. “In the last four games the response has been good”.

Alli then went agonisingly close six minutes from time as Sissoko found him five yards out but Stephens managed to execute a last-ditch block. The club definitely have more talent than they’ve shown this season. With Chelsea and Arsenal both winning this weekend, three points for Spurs seemed like a necessity, and their quest for a top four spot is becoming increasingly challenging.