Jamie Carragher was impressed by James Maddison’s performance as Tottenham Hotspur claimed a 3-1 victory over Coventry City.
Maddison celebrated his first Premier League start in 18 months by scoring his first goal in the competition in approximately 610 days. The England international looked sharp on his return to the starting lineup, helping Spurs secure their first win of the campaign.
The midfielder produced an excellent finish from outside the penalty area, taking his tally of Premier League goals scored from distance to 21. That figure is at least two more than any other player in the competition, with Kevin De Bruyne and James Ward-Prowse both sitting on 19.
Although Maddison is still working towards regaining full fitness, his impressive display has strengthened his case to start Tottenham’s next Premier League fixture against Chelsea.
James Maddison’s Return Could Cost Conor Gallagher His Place
Maddison had already shown glimpses of his quality during his brief appearance against Manchester United, despite playing only 15 minutes.
Interestingly, he also recorded three tackles at Old Trafford, more than any other Tottenham player, demonstrating his willingness to contribute defensively as well as going forward.
However, Roberto De Zerbi needs Maddison to deliver goals and assists, and the playmaker provided exactly that against Coventry.
He scored from an expected goals (xG) value of just 0.1, with his only other attempt on goal being blocked.
Maddison also recorded 70 touches during his 69 minutes on the pitch, completing 49 of his 56 attempted passes, an impressive 88 per cent success rate.
According to Sofascore, he additionally won all four of his duels, underlining his effectiveness in different aspects of the game.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, Carragher described De Zerbi’s decision to select Maddison ahead of Conor Gallagher, who started on the bench, as an interesting one.
However, the former Liverpool defender made his preference clear, stating that Maddison possesses considerably more creativity and flair than Gallagher in the number 10 role.
His comments will strengthen the argument for Maddison to retain his place in Tottenham’s starting lineup against Chelsea, potentially leaving Gallagher on the bench once again.
De Zerbi could also stick with the same attacking combination that delivered against Coventry, provided there are no injury concerns before the weekend fixture.
Gallagher still has plenty to offer, and De Zerbi has repeatedly praised his qualities. Nevertheless, Maddison and the other attackers who impressed against Coventry deserve the opportunity to build on their performances.
Mohammed Kudus Reaches an Impressive Milestone
Maddison’s opening goal came courtesy of an assist from Mohammed Kudus, who demonstrated excellent footwork to create the opportunity.
The Ghanaian international has now registered two assists in his last three appearances and is level with his Tottenham teammates for the most assists recorded by a Spurs player this season, despite featuring in only five matches.
With Maddison and Kudus both returning to form, Tottenham have reasons to feel optimistic about their prospects under De Zerbi.
Dejan Kulusevski also made his return from the bench, marking his first appearance in 526 days.
The return of these influential attacking players could prove significant for Tottenham as they attempt to turn their season around. Following their victory over Coventry, De Zerbi will hope this performance marks the beginning of a much-needed revival.
