Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham: 5 talking points as Spurs suffer harrowing defeat | Premier League 2020-21 

#3 Quiet day in the office for Tottenham forwards

Tottenham did not impose themselves in attack

Harry Kane suffered yet another relapse of his recurring ankle injury last month but was rushed back in time for the final of the League Cup.

He, however, failed to make much of an impact in that game and followed that up with another low-key display against Leeds United.

Kane had the ball in the back of the net twice but both goals were ruled out for offside. He also struck the crossbar from a freekick.

72 - @HKane smashes a free-kick against the bar from the edge of the box.⚪️ #LUFC 2-1 #THFC 🟢

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 8, 2021

These were, however, isolated incidents for the Tottenham number 10, as he was largely on the periphery for most of the game.

The same can be said about fellow forward Gareth Bale, as well as the returning Dele Alli, who was overrun in the middle of the park before his substitution.

#2 Patrick Bamford ends goal drought

Patrick Bamford scored his 15th league goal of the season

Patrick Bamford has been one of the revelations of the season and his form in the first half of the campaign helped Leeds United quickly steer clear of the relegation zone.

The goals, however, dried up at the turn of the year and the 27-year-old came into this clash with Tottenham after a five-game drought.

A proof of his struggles in front of goal came last week when Marcelo Bielsa substituted him in the 58th minute despite the fact that Leeds United were trailing and needed a goal.

💬 "We've done really well this season as a team but there's no point going out on a whimper" pic.twitter.com/SqfvIzKZuU

— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 8, 2021

Perhaps spurred by that slight, the former Chelsea man looked in the mood against Tottenham.

He hassled and charged at the visitors' backline from the get-go and his efforts were rewarded when he put Leeds United ahead just before halftime.

It was his 15th league goal of the campaign and with England manager Gareth Southgate watching on, Patrick Bamford did his international prospects a world of good.

#1 Tottenham's top-four hopes suffer a huge blow

Tottenham are in real danger of not making the top four

Tottenham came into this fixture knowing that anything other than a victory would all but put paid to their ambitions of finishing in the top four.

With Leicester City having suffered a debilitating 4-2 defeat to Newcastle United on home turf, there was a slight window of opportunity for the north London outfit to reenter the race for UEFA Champions League qualification.

That failed to happen and this defeat means that Tottenham are five points behind Chelsea who currently occupy the fourth spot. The Spurs are also seven points behind third-placed Leicester City.

Barring an unlikely sequence of results, it looks improbable that Tottenham will finish in the top four which will represent a poor end to a campaign that promised so much.