Reaction: Tottenham 4-1 Sunderland

1. Spurs move four points off the top
2. Sunderland drop down to 19th

Don't hassle the Hoff

Jan Kirchhoff has a touch of the Per Mertesackers about him and is playing like the Arsenal centre-back would if you had just taken him out of the freezer. I think he might take a few games to thaw out, or adjust to the pace of the Premier League. Whatever happens quickest.

SUBSTITUTION

The points are in the bag for Tottenham, who have just made their another change - Tom Carroll replaces Mousa Dembele.

GOAL - Tottenham 4-1 Sunderland

Harry Kane has got his goal, tucking away the penalty past Jordan Pickford without any problems. I don't think Jan Kirchhoff will remember his Premier League debut particularly fondly, do you?

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PENALTY to Tottenham

Do I have to tell you that Jan Kirchhoff conceded it? Probably not. He dived in on Danny Rose, and missed the ball by about a minute.

Patrick van Aanholt is not happy, because Dele Alli has just flicked the ball at him after it went out for a throw. Referee Mike Dean is over to sort it out, without showing a card.

'Tottenham are short in numbers up front'

Clive Allen

Former Tottenham & England forward at White Hart Lane for 5 live Sport

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"There is no doubt that Tottenham are short in numbers when it comes to their frontline. I do think they need to add a striker in January, just to back up Harry Kane. It mighty only be a young prospect they purchase, but I do think Spurs need to go into the market. 

"Of course, strikers can cost a lot of money..."

SUBSTITUTION

While Harry Kane has seen plenty of the ball, Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe has been feeding on scraps - he has only managed two shots at goal, and one of them was blocked.

Sunderland are making their final change, and another young English talent is entering the fray - Duncan Watmore is on for Jeremain Lens.

SUBSTITUTION

Harry Kane seems determined to get on the scoresheet himself today but the Tottenham striker has just had his sixth shot of the game pushed away by the impressive Jordan Pickford. 

Time for a Spurs change - Erik Lamela is off, replaced by England Under-19 international Josh Onomah.

Sunderland do have time on their side - about 20 minutes of it - and they have just threatened for the first time in a while.

Adam Johnson and Patrick van Aanholt, who combined so well when the visitors took the lead, link up again. Van Aanholt's first touch is heavy but he still gets in a cross that Tottenham clear before Jermain Defoe can get on the end of it.

'You feel sorry for young Pickford...'

Clive Allen

Former Tottenham & England forward at White Hart Lane for 5 live Sport

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"You feel sorry for young Jordan Pickford, who has had an outstanding performance for Sunderland. He just couldn't do anything about that. The huge deflection takes the ball right between the crossbar and the upright - an impossible one to save, with the keeper completely outwitted."

Allardyce decision backfires

Clive Allen

Former Tottenham & England forward at White Hart Lane for 5 live Sport

"Isn't it amazing, Allardyce made that change and bought on Kirchhoff to move to three central defenders and hang on to what they had and in a matter of seconds they are behind. They had forward options but he made the change for a specific reason and it has not paid dividends.

"Sunderland's best chance is set pieces as it is their best opportunity to put their big defenders further forward."

GOAL - Tottenham 3-1 Sunderland

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That outcome is looking a lot more likely now, because Jan Kirchhoff's afternoon is not getting any better.

Christian Eriksen lets fly from the edge of the area and his shot spins off Sunderland's new German defender and flies into the net.

If Spurs go on to take the three points, they will be a point behind third-placed Manchester City and four points behind the leaders, their north London rivals Arsenal.

Spurs suddenly have a spring in their step coming forward, while Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe still looks isolated in their attack. No sign of a Black Cats equaliser at the moment, although their first goal did come out of nothing so let's not write them off just yet.

GOAL - Tottenham 2-1 Sunderland

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Jan Kirchhoff's stats are not going to make pleasant reading, he was only on the pitch a couple of minutes and Spurs had three shots and scored.

Jordan Pickford did well again to keep out Harry Kane's bouncing shot from distance and then parry Danny Rose's fierce effort from the resulting corner, but he could do nothing about Mousa Dembele's follow-up to squirt the ball into the bottom corner.

'Big 40 mins for Spurs'

Clive Allen

Former Tottenham & England forward at White Hart Lane for 5 live Sport

“It is a big 40 minutes for Spurs. It is important for Sunderland in position they are, that they hold onto a valuable point. But for Spurs if it stays like this, they will be looking over their shoulders at Manchester United and West Ham who will be looking for them to slip up.”      

How rusty is the Hoff?

It is Danny Graham making way for the Hoff, who arrived from Bayern Munich earlier this month. He has not played much this season - less than a minute according to MOTD commentator Simon Brotherton.

Here comes The Hoff

Sunderland are about to make another change - their new German defender, Jan Kirchhoff - all 6ft 5in of him - is about to make his debut.

Here come Tottenham again, and they do much better with the final ball this time. Erik Lamela skips into space and clips in a useful cross for Dele Alli, but he cannot find the target with his header.

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SUBSTITUTION

That Sunderland change has now taken place - Lee Cattermole, who had just been booked, has been replaced by Jack Rodwell.