Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Bournemouth: Barclays Premier League - as it happened

Full-time: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Bournemouth

A Harry Kane-inspired Spurs keep their title hopes alive with a lop-sided win against Eddie Howe's men.

Tottenham go marching on under Mauricio Pochettino.

Three minutes of added time.

"We're coming for you! We're coming for youuuuuu!" the Spurs fans are singing to Leicester. Great atmosphere at the Lane today.

Spurs are continuing to press for a fourth goal - no let-up from the hosts. Not under Mauricio Pochettino's watch.

Can Harry Kane get his hat-trick in the remaining few minutes?

Artur Boruc will be looking forward to getting on the team bus. He has conceded eight goals in two games against Tottenham this season.

Thankfully for the former Celtic man, he only has five minutes (plus added time) of this to survive.

Dele Alli almost grabs a much-deserved goal - but gets it all wrong at the crucial moment. The ball was played across to him, only for the 19-year-old star to scuff it when he seemed certain to score.

And that's his last contribution for the afternoon...

From here, the Cherries face Manchester City next. They also have Liverpool and Chelsea on the horizon.

However, they only need two points to reach that magical 40-point mark. Survival would still be an incredible achievement for the club.

On the pitch, meanwhile, it has descended into training ground-esque stuff, with Spurs knocking the ball around with a swagger.

Around 15 minutes left at the Lane? Can Kane get his hat-trick and extend his lead at the top of the scoring charts? You certainly wouldn't back against him at the moment.

After a few good moments at the start of the half, Bournemouth's optimism has completely evaporated. They just want to hear the full-time whistle now, I fancy.

This game is meandering towards a predictable conclusion at this stage. It was over as a contest some time ago, in all honesty.

Anyway, the Cherries are making their third and final change. Mark Pugh comes on for Gradel.

Erik Lamela it is who makes way for the youngster. The Argentine has shown plenty of his quality this afternoon. Time to put his feet up now, though.

We've played more than an hour at the Lane now. Surely Mauricio Pochettino will consider resting some of their stars ahead of the title run-in.

Ah, as I type that, it looks like Tom Carroll is preparing to come on.

Bournemouth fans are still managing to retain their sense of humour. They've been busily reminding the opposition that it is still Leicester who top the table.

Back on the field, meanwhile, Harry Kane and Dele Alli are both playing like a dream, which is sure to thrill England boss Roy Hodgson ahead of the international break.

Spurs' biggest win of the season came in the reverse fixture, which they won 5-1. With more than 30 minutes to go at the Lane, they may better that result.

Tottenham fans, who may have been anxious before the match, are in celebratory mood at the moment. The hosts are set to move back to within five points of Claudio Ranieri's table-topping Leicester side.

Not only that, Spurs have been outstanding today and will fancy their chances of adding more goals to their score.

GOAL: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Bournemouth (Eriksen)

I spoke too soon!

Kane takes a shot from distance that Boruc pushes back into the centre of the penalty area, where Eriksen casually jogs towards the ball and passes it into an unguarded net.

Despite that early scare, the Cherries are looking much better so far in this half. They are actually putting the hosts under pressure, giving them minimal time of the ball.

There would have been some stern words said in the away dressing room at half-time, I fancy.

Bournemouth begin the second half on top. They have back-to-back corners, but they come to nothing.

And then the Cherries lose the ball, allowing Spurs to launch an incisive counter-attack that almost leads to a goal. Thankfully for Eddie Howe, Kyle Walker's shot/cross drifts harmlessly wide.

We're back underway at the Lane. Eddie Howe has made two subs, although it doesn't appear there will be a change in shape for the away side.

Will it make a difference to the outcome? We're about to see...

Over at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, meanwhile, United are leading their cross-city rivals 1-0.

If you want to follow that game too, you can do so here.

Spurs produced some really head-turning football during the first-half. From a neutral standpoint, let's hope for more of the same in the second period.

For the Cherries, meanwhile, Eddie Howe must be tearing his hair out trying to figure out what to do.

Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Bournemouth

The scoreline doesn't do Spurs justice. They have been brilliant at times.

Another eye-catching move ends with Christian Eriksen just failing to get his toe-end on the ball at the far post.

Dele Alli - as we have come to expect - was at the centre of that passage of play. He is some player for a 19 year old.

We're into added time now...

If Tottenham have played better than this during the season, I wish I had seen it for myself.

The have been superb so far, dominating Eddie Howe's team from the first whistle. It's 2-0 at the moment, but it could easily be more.

The Cherries almost find the net completely against the grain of the game.

The ball is flung into the box from the left side and Cook rises highest in the area - but his effort sails over the bar. He should have done better, to be honest.

Five mins to go until the break at White Hart Lane...

Dele Alli has the ball in the net! It's anoth... oh no, the flag is up and Bournemouth survive.

Looked like the correct decision, that.

By the way, Alli has assisted Harry Kane for seven Premier League goals this season. That means he has made the most assists from one player to another in 2015/16.

A corner for Bournemouth. A minor sign of encouragement, but it comes to nothing for Eddie Howe's men.

There's a real swagger in Spurs' play, and there's a sizeable gulf in class between these two sides so far today.

What, if anything, can Bournemouth do to change this game around? At this stage, to be honest, they might be happy to settle for a 2-0 defeat, such is Spurs' dominance.

It's still one-way traffic at the Lane, with Spurs looking to stretch the pitch using their fullbacks.

A third goal for the hosts and this match could be over as a contest before the half-time whistle. Bournemouth have not had a meaningful shot at goal.

Spurs' latest attack ends with Danny Rose smashing a volley against the side-netting, when he should have shot across the goal.

Tottenham really have become an accomplished side under Mauricio Pochettino. They all appear very comfortable on the ball and when they lose it, they go hunting it in packs.

It is testament to the Argentine's work on the training field that they are making it look so easy.

This is far too easy for Spurs at the moment. The Cherries are just allowing them to play.

Someone needs to make a tackle, pressure the ball or ... just do anything! Eddie Howe won't be pleased with the opening 25 minutes in north London.

The Cherries need to stay in the game for the time being. They don't want to take any undue risks and fall further behind. So far, they simply haven't recovered from that horrible start.

Spurs, on the other hand, are playing some delightful football - you can see why they're challenging for the Premier League title.

Bournemouth are getting the runaround in the middle of the park at the moment, as Tottenham have an extra man in there.

Eddie Howe may be tempted to drop one of his strikers a touch deeper to offer his men some more support.

The latest Spurs attack, by the way, ends with Christian Eriksen failing to find the target.

GOAL: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Bournemouth (Kane)

Dele Alli finds a beautiful through ball for Harry Kane, who races through on goal and finishes expertly with his left foot.

That was a wonderful piece of football from Tottenham, who are clearly brimming with confidence.

Kane is on a hat-trick already. Unreal.

The game has settle down a bit after that manic start. Spurs are controlling things for the most part, but in truth, there hasn't been a chance of note since the goal went in.

The Cherries will just be glad to get a foothold in the match.

Another Kane-related stat for you...

The Spurs striker has become the fifth Englishman to score 20+ goals in consecutive Premier League seasons. Who are the others, you ask? Cole, Ferdinand, Fowler and Shearer.

Quite predictably, perhaps, Bournemouth appear a little rattled by that start. They are affording Kyle Walker far too much room down the right side.

Spurs won't care, though. White Hart Lane is bouncing at the moment.

What an incredible start for the hosts. I'm sure lots of fans were still making their way to their seats when that goal went in.

But it really is the ideal start, given the nerves that are sure to have been knocking about north London this morning.

GOAL: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Bournemouth (Kane)

Spurs lead after less than a minute!

Harry Kane has goal number 23 of the season. The England striker gets on the end of a right-wing cross to calm the nerves at the Lane.

What. A. Start.

The ref blows his whistle and we're underway at the Lane!

Spurs have 90 minutes to keep their title hopes on track, or to hand full control to table-toppers Leicester. What will it be? We're about to find out...

Pre-match thoughts

Eddie Howe: "Hurting title ambitions is not really in our mind, it is about us and making sure we have all got our job done.

"We still feel we have more points to get, we have got some hard work to do. This will be a really tough game, but we are just after Bournemouth's interests, no one else's."

Pre-match thoughts

Tottenham's Dele Alli: "Bournemouth have got some great players and it's another one of the surprises this season.

"A lot of people probably expected them to go down but they've got a great manager, a lot of great players and it's important that we don't become complacent, and that we do our job and stay professional."

Prior to today's match - which is just ten minutes away now - Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has been speaking about their title hopes.

He said: "Sometimes I've said we are at the last turn and now we are on the final, home straight. Now I want to see my horses, how they run."

Clearly, the Foxes boss is confident of lifting the coveted trophy in May.

Josh King has scored in each of his side's past two Premier League games. He starts up front with Benik Afobe, who scored three goals in his first four appearances for the club.

However, he has managed only one in his past six outings. Can he rediscover his form this afternoon at the Lane?

Right, the players are out on the pitch at the moment going through their last-minute preparations.

This is a huge game for Spurs, in particular.

All the pressure is on Spurs this afternoon. Nothing less than three points will do for Mauricio Pochettino's men.

The question is: how will his team cope with the pressure of a title race? We're about to find out...

Ahead of today's game, Spurs have been linked with Liverpool star Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also spoken about the transfer rumour involving the Reds captain.

"Nobody in the world, maybe only Messi, is unsellable," Klopp said.

"I am pretty sure it is only a rumour [Tottenham] but if not and if any player comes to me and says he doesn't feel comfortable and wants to leave, style of play, more money, then you always have to start thinking."

Just as a reminder, Spurs are currently eight points behind Leicester in the Premier League table. If they lose today, their title hopes will take a severe dent.

And in case you missed what happened in the Premier League yesterday, here is a reminder.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said his side cannot rest in the scrap to avoid relegation from the Premier League despite pulling 12 points clear of the drop zone ahead of the trip to Tottenham.

Victory over Swansea City was the Cherries' third in a row and leaves them on the brink of confirming survival in the English top flight.

"From our point of view," Howe said, "the game will provide a good chance to see how far we've come and improved over the season."

So, Harry Kane does, indeed, return to the Spurs team after missing the Europa League clash with Dortmund on Thursday.

He'll be looking to add to his goals tally this afternoon, as the Londoners try to keep pace with Leicester City in the Premier League title race.

Breaking team news:

Breaking team news:

Spurs: Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dembele, Dier; Lamela, Alli, Eriksen; Kane

Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Walker-Peters, Carroll, Chadli, Mason, Son

The teams have arrived at White Hart Lane. We'll bring you the all-important line-ups as soon as we have them.

What the managers say

Eddie Howe: "Tottenham were very good on the day. I was really impressed with their work ethic and of course they have the ability to complement that, so it's a good mix. I have a lot of time for their manager [Mauricio Pochettino] as well, he's done a very good job and put together a very young and exciting squad.

"From our point of view, the game will provide a good chance to see how far we've come and improved over the season. There is no feeling inside the camp that we are safe. There won't be until it's mathematical, and even then the work ethic doesn't change: we'll still want to win games."

What the managers say

Mauricio Pochettino: "I think now we are focused on the Premier League and all our energies will go into trying to win games and win the league. It's true that there are no distractions now, until now we had the Europa League to play, but now we only have the Premier League.

"We need to realise that our target was to try to reduce the gap to the top four but we are second in the table now, and we have played one tie more than last season in the Europa League."

Preview

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth are only two points from the much acclaimed 40-point mark which would all but confirm their participation in next year's Premier League race.

However, the manager was quick to banish any notions and is looking to end the season on a high.

They are in brilliant form coming into the fixture, winning three games on the trot and will look to tide over what is expected to be a difficult period.

Preview

Tottenham have not been in great form in the league of late, taking only four points from their last three league games, which has opened up a gap between themselves and leaders Leicester.

However, with only eight games remaining, Spurs have to bring out their best against Bournemouth, especially with a few tough games lined up in the foreseeable future.

Spurs face Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and have to travel to Stoke City away before the end of the season and their performance against teams in the bottom half of the table will reflect if they are capable of winning their first league title since 1961.

Spurs are out of all competitions, having suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 tie of the Europa League in mid-week.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of this crucial game in the Premier League between Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.

Spurs know this is a must-win match for them if they are to pull off an unlikely title triumph.

We'll have all the team news for you shortly...