Maddison returns to lead Tottenham's attacking midfield ahead of Chelsea clash

On October 19th, Tottenham secured their first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 home victory over Coventry City in Week 7. After the match, The Athletic analyzed Tottenham's current situation.

The report stated that Tottenham’s long wait was finally over.

On match day, Tottenham were bottom of the Premier League table and the only team in England's top seven divisions yet to win this season. They desperately needed to beat Coventry and pick up points that reflected their recent performances on the pitch.

Tottenham often squandered chances in front of goal in their first six games of the season. This 3-1 victory, however, will be remembered for two high-quality goals from the home side: Maddison scored the opener, and Omar Marmoush added the second. Between those two long-range strikes, Jake Rudoni equalized for Coventry, nearly disrupting Tottenham's momentum just as it was building.

However, Roberto De Zerbi's side enjoyed a dream finish. First, Kulusevski returned to the pitch after a long-term injury. Then, Ben Davies scored the third goal in stoppage time to secure all three points.

Did Maddison show Tottenham what they had been missing?

After 536 days, Maddison made his first start since May 2023 in the Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt. It took him just 14 minutes to show what Tottenham had been missing, as he curled a perfectly placed shot over Karl Rushworth and into the net.

The 29-year-old finally returned to action after suffering two serious knee injuries and enduring a lengthy recovery. Determined to make up for lost time, he frequently moved between Coventry's midfield and defense to find space. He also linked up with Dominic Solanke, giving Tottenham a player willing to take responsibility in attack.

However, after he scored, the inevitable effects of his long absence became apparent. Maddison began attempting increasingly difficult long passes over the Coventry defense, most of which failed to find their target.

His bright start gradually gave way to frustration. Although Tottenham controlled possession, they struggled to create clear-cut chances. Coventry's equalizer briefly threatened to undo his good work, but Tottenham steadied themselves and regained the lead.

This was undoubtedly a rare highlight in Maddison's career. When he was substituted in the second half, the entire stadium rose to give him a warm ovation. He provided a moment of individual brilliance that Tottenham had sorely lacked, but his performance also showed that he still has considerable work to do before he can consistently dictate the tempo and control play.

However, the loudest cheers of the night came when Kulusevski came on as a substitute, returning to the pitch after 526 days out with a severe right patellar injury. The home fans applauded each of his first few touches on the left wing, providing a moving end to a positive night for Tottenham.

Marmoush's brilliant goal: was it controversial?

Marmoush, who joined from Man City during the summer transfer window, scored his first goal for Tottenham, but the goal was not without controversy.

Coventry and their travelling fans were furious that the goal was allowed to stand.

In the 59th minute, the Egyptian player put Tottenham back in front with a spectacular curling shot into the far corner. As he prepared to shoot, his raised elbow struck Milan van Ewijk in the face, causing the Dutch defender to fall to the ground immediately in pain.

Coventry manager Frank Lampard protested vehemently on the touchline, believing the contact at the edge of the box should have been deemed a foul. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not recommend a pitchside review, and the goal stood.

Marmoush joined Tottenham on loan in August, with a mandatory purchase clause for an initial fee of £50 million (equivalent to $67 million). He had failed to score in his previous five Premier League appearances for the club.

The 27-year-old, who plays as a left-sided attacker behind Solanke, has long been capable of producing world-class strikes. His long-range effort against Bournemouth in the 2024-25 season was voted the Premier League's Goal of the Season.

Tottenham's first opening-half goal of the season

Maddison's early curling effort was not only a significant personal moment but also Tottenham's first goal in the first half this season.

A major problem for Tottenham in recent weeks has been their tendency to start well but fail to capitalize on their chances, causing their momentum to fade.

This was the case against Everton, Aston Villa, and Man United. The team often started brightly but consistently failed to turn their territorial advantage into a lead, paying a heavy price. They narrowly avoided defeat against Everton, lost to Villa, and then traveled to Old Trafford, where they salvaged a point thanks to Solanke's stoppage-time equalizer.

Maddison's goal gave Tottenham the lead in a league match for the first time in nearly five months, since their meeting with Everton at the end of last season. This time, Tottenham didn't have to chase the game; they had an early advantage and simply needed to maintain their rhythm and extend their lead, which they duly did.

What stage does this match show Tottenham are currently at?

When referee Andy Madley blew the final whistle, a huge weight seemed to lift off Tottenham’s shoulders. They had secured their first Premier League win of the season and their first league victory in nearly five months.

This was the moment the entire team had been waiting for, especially after their major signings in the summer transfer window. It was also only Tottenham's fourth league win in 2024.

Interestingly, the team's overall performance in this match was not necessarily more convincing than in previous games they had failed to win. They were slightly slow to move the ball forward and left space behind their defense, allowing Coventry to launch quick counter-attacks and threaten their goal.

However, after weeks of dominating games without securing points, few were dwelling on the uneven performance in this victory. Two spectacular goals, followed by Davies' late strike from the edge of the box, ended a tense spell in which Tottenham had been forced to dig deep and hold on.

The biggest question now is whether this hard-fought victory can truly boost the team's morale and confidence, especially as key attackers Maddison and Kulusevski both return from injury to make the squad more complete.

Tottenham face Chelsea away in their next match, and their historical record against the Blues is poor. However, this game has shown that they can fight together and secure a victory. After the lows of the past few weeks, that alone is a huge step forward. Now, they need to maintain this level of performance.

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