Tottenham 4-0 Sheffield United: Player ratings as Gareth Bale nets fine hat-trick
Gareth Bale netted a hat-trick as Tottenham moved up to fifth in the Premier League with a 4-0 win over Sheffield United on Sunday.
The home side started brightly and poked their noses in front when Serge Aurier's looped pass was finished calmly by Bale just after the half-hour mark.
Spurs' had the ball in the back of the net again just after the break, only for Son Heung-min's effort to be ruled out for offside. After that the Blades tightened up but not for long with Bale grabbing an emphatic second with 61 minutes on the clock.
Soon after the Welshman completed his hat-trick, firing home from just outside the box after Aurier had laid him off. Son then added some gloss to the scoreline, curling one into the top corner with the ball clipping the post on its way in.
Here are your player ratings for both teams...
TOTTENHAM PLAYER RATINGS
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Hugo Lloris (GK) - 6/10 - Very little to do. His one save was routine.
Serge Aurier (RB) - 9/10 - Showed great inventiveness to set up the opener. Performed well, defended superbly and pressed higher up the pitch when required.
Eric Dier (CB) - 7/10 - A little complacent early on. After Spurs went ahead though, he looked very comfortable.
Toby Alderweireld (CB) - 7/10 - Fairly tidy in possession and played his part in the clean sheet. Can't ask for much more.
Sergio Reguilon (LB) - 7/10 - A quiet game all things considered. Might have offered more in the final third but was sometimes dangerous.
2. Midfielders
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) - 7/10 - Business as usual for the ever-present Dane. He did everything that was asked of him and more.
Giovani Lo Celso (CM) - 7/10 - Kept Spurs ticking over in midfield with his tidy passing. Chipped in defensively too. Solid but unspectacular.
Dele Alli (AM) - 7/10 - Played his part in a few of Spurs' best moves. Worked hard as well.
3. Forwards
Gareth Bale (RW) - 10/10 - One of the best performances of his loan stint. He finished all three of his goals clinically. His second was his 50th in the Premier League.
Harry Kane (ST) - 7/10 - Looked a little sluggish but still caused problems. Had one cleared off the line early on.
Son Heung-min (LW) - 9/10 - Unfortunate to have one strike ruled out as it was some finish. Set up Bale's second and then made up for his disappointment by grabbing a fine goal of his own.
4. Substitutes
Harry Winks - 6/10 - A strong and stable cameo.
Steven Bergwijn - 7/10 - Created one chance after coming on.
Erik Lamela - 5/10 - Poor decision making during his cameo.
SHEFFIELD UNITED PLAYER RATINGS
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Aaron Ramsdale (GK) - 5/10 - Not a lot he could do about any of the goals. They were all great finishes.
George Baldock (CB) - 4/10 - Occasionally drifted into the final third. Struggled to keep Son and Kane in check.
John Egan (CB) - 4/10 - Bamboozled by Spurs' movement on a couple of occasions.
Chris Basham (CB) - 5/10 - Cleared a Kane effort off the line early on. Proved futile in the end, but it was still pretty impressive.
6. Midfielders
Jayden Bogle (RWB) - 4/10 - Had a tough task keeping Son quiet and struggled.
Oliver Norwood (CM) - 6/10 - Not too bad. Whenever the Blades created something he was at the heart of it.
John Fleck (CM) - 5/10 - Fortunate not to get sent off for raking his studs of Lo Celso's face.
Ben Osborn (CM) - 4/10 - Struggled to get near the Spurs midfield. Offered little creativity.
Enda Stevens (LWB) - 5/10 - Worked hard. Did not make any attacking inroads.
7. Forwards
David McGoldrick (ST) - 5/10 - Worked exceptionally hard, running the channels all evening.
Rhian Brewster (ST) - 5/10 - A complete passenger. Had ten touches before being hooked at half-time.
8. Substitutes
Sander Berge - 6/10 - Good to see him back after a lengthy layoff. Seemed to add some solidity early on.
Oliver Burke - 5/10 - Little to report despite playing 45 minutes.
Lys Mousset - N/A