Tottenham 5-0 Bournemouth: Kyle Walker-Peters sets up goals for Christian Eriksen, Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura in 19 minute blitz as free-scoring Spurs move up to second in Premier League

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Towards the very end of Mauricio Pochettino's press conference, his lip curled into the faintest of smiles. After his side leapfrogged Manchester City into second place, the Argentine had been asked for his views on the title race and even this most level-headed of coaches could not foresake a little giddiness.

In front of the television cameras, he had already accepted that Tottenham supporters may now be dreaming of a Premier League title. And, after this latest mauling, who can blame them? Rapidly, though, the manager turned the heat up on his team.

'It is going to be tougher than before now,' Pochettino insisted. 'Now you start to show your face and everyone wants to kill you. We must keep humble, working hard.' 

Christian Eriksen fired in a left-footed effort which took a huge deflection off Jefferson Lerma to wrong-foot Asmir Begovic

Kyle Walker-Peters celebrates with Christian Eriksen after Tottenham opened the scoring in the 16th minute

MATCH FACTS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris 6; Walker-Peters 8, Alderweireld 7.5, Foyth 7, Rose 7; Sissoko 7, Winks 7.5; Moura 7, Eriksen 8 (Davies 84), Son 8.5 (Llorente 88); Kane 7 (Skipp 77)

Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Sanchez, Lamela

Goals: Eriksen 16, Son (23, 70), Moura 35, Kane 61

Booked: Winks, Son

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 8.5

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Begovic 5; Francis 4.5 (Rico 45, 5.5), Cook 4, Ake 5, Daniels 4; Lerma 4, Surman 4.5; Brooks 5.5 (King 74, 6), Stanislas 5, Fraser 5; Wilson 4.5 (Mousset 67, 5.5)

Subs not used: Boruc, Ibe, Defoe, Mings

Booked: Lerma

Manager: Eddie Howe 5

Referee: Chris Kavanagh 6

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To appreciate the growing excellence of this Tottenham side, take a voyage through the history books. This is Tottenham's best record in the top-flight from the opening 19 games of a season since the 1960-61 campaign, when Bill Nicholson's team lifted both the title and the FA Cup.

Only once in Sir Alex Ferguson's haul of thirteen Premier League titles did Manchester United usurp the 90 point finish that Tottenham are on track to secure. This would also equal Arsenal's Invincibles.

This, therefore, is a potentially outstanding Tottenham team. Increasingly, Tottenham make fools of us all.

As Pochettino acknowledged, this is not how it was supposed to be. He said: 'The opinion was that we would go backwards and we accepted that. But we never complained about signings, stadiums, the Wembley, pitch, the fans being very disappointed. We created a bubble.'

Walker-Peters was involved again as he found Son just outside the box and curled a smart finish beyond Asmir Begovic

Walker-Peters racked up his third assist by pulling a clever pass back into the path of Lucas Moura to slot home in 35th minute

Pochettino's team have won five Premier League games on the spin and have scored eleven in their past two fixtures against useful sides in Everton and Bournemouth. On this occasion, Pochettino made four changes, resting Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies and Davinson Sanchez while Dele Alli is injured. In came Juan Foyth, Kyle Walker-Peters, Danny Rose and Lucas Moura and all four excelled.

Walker-Peters, who endured that chastening early experience in the draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp, made his first start since the Champions League fixture and justified his manager's faith by laying on the first three goals.

Pochettino and his team refuse to bow to logic. Many might have been destabilised by speculation that their manager is destined for a move to Manchester United. Instead, Tottenham only improve. This latest handsome victory was a Wembley procession and, in truth, Tottenham needed only to play in moments rather than offering sustained dominance.

Indeed, in the first half, Bournemouth actually had more strikes on goal than the home team but for Eddie Howe, this was a dreadful day and those who have watched his career progress with admiration will hope that the Tottenham decision-makers do not dwell too long on this one in the event Pochettino does leave the club.

The Brazilian managed to guide it into the corner with his right foot from around the penalty spot in a first-half blitz

Tottenham striker Harry Kane latched onto a wonderful pass Eriksen and smashed a left-footed volley past the goalkeeper

But, really, how can the Argentine walk out on this, just as his side flirt with greatness?

When a team is in this form, all the ifs, buts and maybes go their way. Take the opening goal. Christian Eriksen set himself 25 yards from goal, letting fly speculatively, and Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma's attempt to block only succeeded in wrong-footing his goalkeeper and trickling into the goal.

The second owed more to Tottenham's brilliance but Bournemouth also played a part in its creation. Charlie Daniels read a piercing diagonal from Toby Alderweireld but mis-controlled, allowing Walker-Peters to step in and tee up Heung Min-Son. The South Korean, outstanding once more, took two touches control and stroking his finish into the bottom corner.

By the 35th minute, the game was dead and buried, as Walker-Peters pulled back for Moura to drive home the third from the edge of the penalty area. It was, in truth, far too easy and Tottenham's 3-0 advantage was secured by scoring their only three shots on goal.

Still, there were a couple of frights. Hugo Lloris denied Charlie Daniels a consolation just before the interval, while Callum Wilson felt he should have had a penalty before heading just wide of the post in the second half.

Bournemouth's afternoon deteriorated on half-time, when captain Simon Francis over-stretched when he was deceived by a glorious Son dragback and backheel after an initial collision with Lucas Moura.

Howe, who fears his captain may now miss the rest of the season, said: 'When clinical moments came, they took them. We had equally good opportunities.'

Tottenham moved through the gears and no feast is complete without a Harry Kane goal.

Eriksen was afforded time and space, pitched his pass and Kane watched the ball's flight over his shoulder and coaxed his volley into the goal. The fifth came on 70 minutes, as Kane and Moura both had nibbles amid a goalmouth melee before Son pounced again for his eighth goal in eight starts.

Heung-min Son scored his second and Tottenham's fifth following a goalmouth scramble in the 70th minute

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser (left) heads the ball into team-mate Junior Stanislas with the game still goalless

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dives to collect the ball at the feet of Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser

Rivals managers Mauricio Pochettino and Eddie Howe shared a joke and a hug before kick-off on Boxing Day

There were plenty of spare seats as Spurs fans seem to have grown tired of the novelty of playing home games at Wembley