Aston Villa damaged Tottenham’s bid to climb back into the Premier League’s top four as a costly error from Hugo Lloris punished the north Londoners with a 2-0 defeat on Sunday.
Playing for the first time since France lost the World Cup final to Argentina, Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris weakly parried Douglas Luiz’s shot early in the second half and Emiliano Buendia struck for Villa.
Lloris was left on the bench for Tottenham’s draw against Brentford on December 26 as he was rested following France’s last-gasp defeat in Qatar.
The 36-year-old, who conceded three times against Argentina before France lost on penalties, may have wished he had been given more time to recover after his error against Villa.
Brazilian midfielder Luiz added Villa’s second goal in the closing stages, leaving Antonio Conte’s side to endure jeers from frustrated fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham hope their first Premier League game of 2023 will kick-start their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League via the top four.
However, they suffered a New Year’s hangover as mid-table Villa punished a lethargic display.
Fifth-placed Tottenham have failed to win in both of their games since the World Cup break, a slump in form that has seen fourth-placed Manchester United move two points clear at the top.
Adding insult to injury for Tottenham, former Arsenal boss Unai Emery masterminded Villa’s success on his return to north London.
Villa manager Emery, sacked by Arsenal in 2019, has now won three of his four Premier League games since replacing the sacked Steven Gerrard in November.
Son Heung-min started the match again wearing the mask he used during the World Cup to protect his broken eye socket.
But Tottenham’s South Korean star tore the mask off in style early in the first half, throwing it away in anger after failing to control a pass.
The Spurs were shocked
Son’s frustration summed up Tottenham’s spluttering performance.
No player has scored more goals in the Premier League on New Year’s Day than Harry Kane’s five goals.
But the Tottenham striker was denied another at the start of the year when he nodded Ivan Perisic’s cross goalwards, only to see Ashley Young clear the line with a nimble diving header.
Although Tottenham dominated possession for long periods, they were unable to make a breakthrough.
Villa hit him with a thunderous strike five minutes after half-time as a mistake by Lloris allowed the visitors to take the lead.
Luiz’s long-range shot lacked the power to beat Lloris, but the keeper couldn’t hold it and Ollie Watkins latched onto the loose ball, curling it to Buendia, who slotted home from 10 yards.
It was the seventh game in the Premier League that Tottenham had conceded their first goal.
Perisic could not convert a golden opportunity to equalize when he fired over from Son’s free kick, while Kane miscued a decent opportunity from just inside the area.
Buoyed by the miss, Villa delivered the knockout blow in the 73rd minute.
John McGinn’s superb pass split the Tottenham defense and Luiz took a touch before guiding a clinical finish past Lloris.