Swansea vs Tottenham match report: Christian Eriksen free-kicks save point after Harry Kane own goal

Christian Eriksen spared Harry Kane’s blushes as his brilliant brace of free-kicks earned Tottenham a point at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea twice led this thrill-laden encounter through Andre Ayew’s header and the England striker’s own goal, when his rushed clearance at a corner flew into his own net.

But Eriksen, who scored a last-minute winner here last season, showed just how deadly he can be from set-pieces with two brilliant free-kicks proving too good for Lukasz Fabianski in the Swansea goal.

The visitors had the better chances to find a winner and extend their run of victories to four, but they still needed Hugo Lloris to pull off a stunning stoppage-time save to tip Federico Fernandez’s header onto his own bar and secure the point.

“They were great free-kicks from Christian. He has quality when he shoots and delivers a free-kick,” said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. “He is a very professional player, he can play in many positions. If you give him chances to shoot he can have an impact on the game. He is a very important player for us.

“He is one of the best at dead-ball situations – it is hard to say he is the best – but he is one of the best in the Premier League. It is a natural ability but he spends time working on it.”

Swansea manager Garry Monk had warned his players their places were in jeopardy if they failed to improve on recent performances, but they struggled initially against a Tottenham side showing just two changes from the Europa League trip to Monaco.

Tottenham looked comfortable and had an early chance when Bafétimbi Gomis’ bungled pass found only Nacer Chadli, who shot straight at Fabianski.

But, just as Spurs upped the ante, they fell behind. A flowing Swansea move involving Jonjo Shelvey, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Gomis ended with Ayew heading in his fourth goal of the season from Jefferson Montero’s cross.

It was the first Premier League goal the hosts had scored from open play in 310 minutes, but the lead only lasted 11 minutes. Fernandez was booked for a clumsy foul on Dele Alli and the Argentinian was punished as Eriksen rifled the ball into the net, although Fabianski’s positioning left something to be desired.

Swansea struck next in unlikely fashion. Shelvey’s corner was nowhere near any of his team-mates, but Kane sliced his attempted near-post clearance high into his own net for his third own-goal in the top-flight.

The England forward soon had a chance to make amends, but could only find Fabianski’s gloves. The Pole was out quick to smother at Kane’s feet inside 60 seconds of the restart, but Swansea began to take control.

Gomis brilliantly turned away from Jan Vertonghen, only to flash a shot well wide, and also headed narrowly wide from Sigurdsson’s misdirected volley as the pressure increased.

The game looked to be drifting away from the visitors, but Eriksen produced another moment of brilliance to put them back on level terms. Shelvey’s foul on Alli gave the former Ajax man the chance to line-up another free-kick and he again beat Fabianski by curling over the keeper’s head into the far corner.

“We are a bit sick of the sight of Eriksen after he scored here last season,” said Monk. “Had we not conceded two cheap free-kicks we would have won.”