Murphy: Spurs’ new formation bringing best out of Eriksen

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy believes Mauricio Pochettino’s change of formation is bringing the best out of Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen opened the scoring in a 2-1 win over Southampton at White Hart Lane on Sunday, his tenth of the season being added to by Dele Alli before James Ward-Prowse made for a nervy finish.

It isn’t just goalscoring where the 25-year-old Dane has chipped in this season, with Eriksen also racking up 16 assists in 38 appearances in a Spurs shirt.

And Murphy is adamant Eriksen being handed a freer role in Pochettino’s new 3-4-2-1 formation – that sees him line up alongside Alli behind a lone striker – is behind his upturn in form.

“He’s just got better and better really,” Murphy said. “I think earlier in the season, myself and a few others were a bit critical of him – in the bigger games he didn’t quite do enough.

“But now he’s having his most productive season yet – when you look at the numbers.

“He’s on fire at the moment. I think the new system’s helping him. The new formation with the wing-backs higher up the pitch means he can venture infield more.”