Stoke vs Tottenham as it happened: Harry Kane and Dele Alli doubles send message to league leaders Leicester City

Leicester City stumbled on Sunday…

…but they didn’t quite fall.

Nevertheless, Tottenham Hotspur now have a great chance to close the gap in the race for the title to five points with four points to play.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team are at Stoke City this evening, and simply must win. However, it won’t be easy; the Potters may be injury-ravaged right now, but they are still chasing a highest-ever finish in the Premier League.

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Stoke versus Tottenham from the Britannia Stadium. I’m Sam Dymond, and I’ll be here to talk you from every meaningful moment on this pivotal Monday evening. You can join the action by either ‘making a comment’ using the facility above or by tweeting @sammydymond.

Tottenham's main men have Leicester City in their sights. 

The teams from the Britannia Stadium are in......and Mark Hughes has made four changes to the Stoke team that were heavily beaten at Anfield last weekend. Shay Given makes his first Premier League start for almost a year - two days before his 40th birthday - and replaces Jakob Haugaard in goal. Marc Muniesa has recovered from a knock and takes over from the suspended Eric Pieters at left-back; similarly Glenn Whelan has returned to fitness and moves into midfield. Marko Arnautovic is the final one of the quartet to come in; Phil Bardsley and Peter Crouch drop to the bench.There's no such upheaval in the Tottenham ranks. Mauricio Pochettino names the same side that dismantled Manchester United in six mad minutes at White Hart Lane last Sunday. That means Harry Kane has recovered from a dead leg, and Jan Vertonghen makes his second start since recovering from injury.

Stoke: Given, Cameron, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Whelan, Imbula, Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic, Bojan

Subs: Haugaard, Bardsley, Ireland, Joselu, Adam, Diouf, Crouch

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Kane

Subs: Vorm, Davies, Trippier, Wimmer, Mason, Chadli, Son

Referee: Kevin Fri…oh no, it’s Neil Swarbrick

Shay Given plays in the Premier League tonight two days short of his 40th birthday. 

Rejoice! Shay Given is back between some Premier League sticks. 

Infostrada Sports

@InfostradaLive

Shay Given starts for Stoke today, 2 days before 40th birthday, making him oldest player to play for @stokecity in Premier League. #STKTOT

7:30 PM - 18 Apr 2016

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Jonny Blain

@jonoblain

Shay Given last played a Premier League match in May 2015... he conceded 6 at Southampton #stktot

7:05 PM - 18 Apr 2016

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Chris Mayer

@chrismayerV1

Dele Alli wasn't even a year old when Shay Given made his PL debut.

7:15 PM - 18 Apr 2016

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MONDAY AT A GLANCE

• Tottenham thrash Stoke City 4-0 at the Britannia Stadium to close the gap to leaders Leicester to five points with four games to play
• Two goals each from Harry Kane and Dele Alli inflict the Potters to their joint heaviest defeat in the Premier League

60 mins: After an hour of lenient refereeing, Neil Swarbrick takes exception to Imbula booting the ball 50 yards away in frustration and shows him a yellow cards. The Stoke midfielder had been adjudged to have fouled Eric Dier immediately prior to his indiscretion, but the caution still seems harsh. It's not like they don't have ballboys at the Britannia.

67 mins: GOAL! STOKE 0 TOTTENHAM 2:

Spurs have their second goal! In what was another beautifully worked move, Christian Eriksen deceived the Potters defence with a chip through the middle when a pass down the line was expected, and Dele Alli latched on to beat Shay Given with a composed finish. The gap at the top will be down to five points this evening. What a final four games we have in prospect.

The rush of blood to the head from this celebration may explain Dele Alli's dreadful miss moments later. 

70 mins: What a miss from Dele Alli! If his goal less than three minutes ago was composed, this was quite the opposite. Once more played through to face an unprotected Shay Given, the midfielder skipped around the Stoke goalkeeper, took an extra touch and then inexplicable fired a shot against the outside of the post. The reaction from Mauricio Pochettino on the touchline was to punch the ground in disbelief.