Good afternoon everyone. Our coverage on a busy afternoon in the Premier League continues with live text commentary of Tottenham Hotspur welcoming Southampton to White Hart Lane. Two sides in very different form meet in North London, and only one man has been dominating the headlines in the build-up to this match.

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It was supposed to be so difficult for Southampton when Mauricio Pochettino left the club early in the summer to replace Tim Sherwood at Spurs. In truth, it's been anything but difficult. After a number of key players followed the Argentine out the door, Ronald Koeman went about his business quietly and the Saints have made a fantastic start to the new campaign. Can they get one over their old manager today?

A promising start for Pochettino in North London has been followed by a frustrating run of results. They've slipped to 12th in the table, and haven't tasted victory in any of their previous four Premier League matches. When you're playing like that, it's never nice to see the league's in-form side next up on your fixture list.

Southampton turn up in North London having won six in a row in all competitions. They start the day in third spot after seeing Manchester City climb above them with a win over Aston Villa yesterday, but they'll replace the champions again with another victory.

Momentum is always such a big word in football, and it could be a deciding factor today. Spurs are low on confidence, and there are signs that the squad are struggling to adapt to Pochettino's style of play. However, a win against a team playing so well could be a big turning point. For Southampton, it's all about continuing to produce their best football.

SPURS: Lloris; Naughton, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue, Mason; Eriksen, Chadli, Lamela; Adebayor

SUBSTITUTES: Vorm, Dier, Fazio, Dembele, Townsend, Kane, Soldado

No surprises from Pochettino as he moves on from the Europa League draw with Besiktas by naming the same side that drew with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. That means Ryan Mason starts in central midfield on his home Premier League debut for Spurs.

SOUTHAMPTON: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Tadic, Mane, Pelle

SUBSTITUTES: K. Davis, Gardos, Long, Cork, Mayuka, Reed, Targett

When you're winning games, why change the team? Koeman keeps faith with the 11 players who beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1, but there is a spot on the bench for Florin Gardos, who returns to the squad after missing last week's match due to injury.

An unchanged side means Morgan Schneiderlin faces the side he was heavily linked with in the summer. At one point it seemed crazy to suggest that the French midfielder would stay with the Saints, but he has played a key role for the team early in the season. Reports this morning have claimed that he will be offered a lucrative new contract.

A quick reminder to everyone that you can follow text coverage of any of the Premier League games by clicking the fixture in the box on the right of the page. Manchester United have just taken a 2-1 lead over Everton, while Chelsea host Arsenal in a game which also kicks off at 2.05pm. QPR meet West Ham United in East London later this afternoon.

PHOTO: Dušan Tadić and @AlderweireldTob take a look around ahead of today's game. #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/I2gRsD7MGb — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 5, 2014

When these two sides met last season while Pochettino was in charge of the Saints, we were treated to two fantastic matches. Tim Sherwood didn't last long as the Spurs manager, but he managed to guide the team to two 3-2 victories over Southampton.

It should be interesting to see how the visiting supporters treat Pochettino this afternoon, but it's fair to say that the Argentine looks back on his time at St Mary's very fondly.

"Southampton was a great period in my life - I think the best period in my life, that one year and a half," Pochettino told Sky Sports News. "A lot of people love me from Southampton and I have very good memories. I can't explain another thing."

KEY PLAYER: If Southampton are going to continue their impressive form, they will need Graziano Pelle to be at his best once again. The summer signing has looked completely at home since arriving in the Premier League, and he'll be full of confidence. If he can handle the physical challenge against Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen, Southampton will fancy their chances today.

KEY PLAYER: At times Christian Eriksen has been superb in a Spurs shirt, but sometimes he can be guilty of drifting in and out of games. If they are to return to winning ways, they need the Dane to pull the strings today. Whether he can find the space between Southampton's midfield and defence could be the deciding factor.

Some of the team at Sports Mole took a closer look at this fixture earlier in the week. Below, you can see what they think could be the key factors at White Hart Lane.

PREDICTION: We're 20 minutes away from kickoff now, so it's time to have a guess at what the score will be today. Southampton are in great form, and will surely play with plenty of confidence, but I'm expecting Spurs to produce an improved display. For that reason, I'll be sitting on the fence. 2-2.

The statistics make nice reading for Spurs fans ahead of the match. In their 15 trips to White Hart Lane in the Premier League, Southampton have only managed to record two victories, and Spurs won all four meetings since the Saints returned to the top tier of English football.

Here's @Ryan_Mason13 in the warm-up. He makes his home @premierleague debut today. #COYS pic.twitter.com/q8TMbEVtX4

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 5, 2014

Just to let all of you know who to blame if a decision goes against your side this afternoon, it's Mike Jones who will be the man with the whistle at White Hart Lane. Fingers crossed we aren't speaking about him in a couple of hours.

The excitement is building at White Hart Lane. Both sets of players will be back out in the middle in a few minutes. As always, the travelling Southampton supporters are in great voice. Can Spurs silence them today?

RESULT: The first three points of the day have been secured at Old Trafford, where goals from Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao have given Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Everton.

Here we go then! Both sides are out on the pitch now. We're just a few handshakes away from kickoff now.

Southampton will get the game underway.

Kaboul carries the ball out of defence without any pressure on him, but a long pass forward is slightly too strong for Adebayor to collect.

It's a battle between the fans early on as 'When the Saints/Spurs go marching in' is belted out from the stands. Decent start to the game from the hosts, but very little action in the final third yet.

CLOSE! An early corner almost brings the first goal for Spurs when Vertonghen finds it far too easy to win a header, but his effort is cleared off the line by Bertrand.

It's a promising start to the match for Spurs. Pochettino's side are pressing just how the Argentine wants them to, and they look hungrier than the visitors in the early stages. Good football from the hosts.

Southampton have seen very little of the ball early on. When they do win possession, a Spurs player is always fighting to win the ball back.

Crucial piece of defending from Naughton, who misses the chance to clear Schneiderlin's cross, before reacting quickly to block a Mane effort which looked destined for the bottom corner. Better from the Saints.

Southampton are certainly improving now as the ball is shared between the two sides a bit more evenly. We've not seen much of Pelle yet, but worryingly for Spurs, Schneiderlin is beginning to dominate in midfield.

Pelle drops slightly deeper to get involved for the first time. His pass finds the run of Mane, whose cross is cleared away before it can reach Davis inside the box.

Southampton have gone slightly more direct with lobbed passes in the past few moments as they look to use Pelle, who has been peeling away onto the shoulders of Rose and Naughton. It's not quite clicking yet, though.

Lamela troubles the visitors with a clever run from deep, and it looks like Spurs are in when his pass plays through Adebayor, but his progress is stopped by the offside flag.

There's a brief break in play while Mane receives treatment after colliding with Kaboul. It looks like the Saints forward will be fine to continue, fortunately for the visitors.

It should come as no surprise that Pochettino likes Mason. The midfielder has been very busy in the early stages, and is leading by example when it comes to applying pressure on the ball.

Excellent defending from Rose as he sprints out to the right wing to tackle Clyne, who looked set to deliver a dangerous cross into the box.

Koeman's side have enjoyed a good spell in the past few minutes. They've pushed further up the pitch, and it's Spurs who are being forced to defend now.

Mane does very well to find a yard of space on the wing, before pulling the ball back for Schneiderlin, whose effort is blocked by a combination of Vertonghen and Pelle.

Plenty of easy-on-the-eye football being played, but the end product hasn't been good enough from either side in the first half. It's a game which needs a goal, to be honest.

SAVE! Better from Lamela, who evades a couple of changes before firing the ball towards the bottom corner to force Forster into a good save. Southampton manage to clear the corner which follows.

Spurs back on top now as the hosts increase the tempo to push the Saints back. A couple of corners are won, but the deliveries are poor and the pressure on the visitors is soon relieved.

Rose can probably count himself a bit lucky after he gets away without a booking following a really poor tackle on Tadic, who limps away in pain. He should be OK to stay on.

Another poor challenge passes by without a caution. Bertrand is the offender this time as he catches Naughton's studs with a dangerous tackle. Mike Jones is clearly eager to keep his cards in his pocket today.

SUBSTITUTION: Naughton was desperate to carry on, but that tackle from Bertrand has caused some damage, and he is forced to make way for Eric Dier.

Southampton clear a couple of deliveries into the box with apparent ease. Tottenham's finally ball hasn't been very good yet, particularly from set-pieces.

SAVE! Forster is forced into action for the second time this afternoon as he tips wide Eriksen's swerving effort from distance.

Spurs are finishing the first half very well, as Mason sprints past a couple of players before seeing his cross deflected behind for a corner. Lamela's cross is poor again, and Southampton clear.

Spurs make the breakthrough! Adebayor and Chadli combine well on the left, before the latter picks out Eriksen, whose powerful strike from the edge of the box leaves Forster with no chance. Great finish from the Dane.

Southampton attempt to produce an immediate response to falling behind, but Pelle's effort from just inside the box is well kept out by the safe hands of Lloris.

WOODWORK! Spurs come agonisingly close to doubling their advantage when Chadli races clear of the Saints defence before seeing his shot come back off the inside of the post. Could that be a big moment in the match?

It's turning into a very entertaining game in North London now as Tadic sees a deflected effort from a free kick kept out by Lloris. Simple save for the French shot-stopper. Three minutes added on.

Pochettino will be a very happy man thanks to Eriksen's fine strike. Spurs head into the break ahead, but you sense there will be plenty of twists before the final whistle. Both sides enjoyed periods on top until that extra piece of quality broke the deadlock.

For long spells of the first half, it was turning into a frustrating games to watch. Both teams looked comfortable in possession, but the end product was poor until the opening goal. Koeman won't be panicking just yet. He's seen plenty to indicate that Southampton can get back into the game.

BENCH WATCH: I'm not sure if either manager will be thinking of a change just yet, with Pochettino already using one to remove the injured Naughton. If Southampton stay behind for much longer, Koeman will surely considering sending on Long, who will provide a different threat with his willingness to run into the channels.

3 - Christian Eriksen (three) has scored more Premier League goals against Southampton than any other team. Marching. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 5, 2014

The players are on their way back out of the tunnel, and we're almost ready for the second half. Spurs will get the game back underway.

Southampton need to respond quickly. If they can apply the pressure early on in the second half, a Spurs side lacking confidence will surely offer them chances.

The start to the second half has been dominated by mistakes. Both sides are struggling to retain possession at the moment.

Southampton have been on the front foot for the past couple of minutes, but Spurs are defending well. Much like he did last week against Arsenal, Kaboul has made a number of vital clearances under pressure.

Clever play from Eriksen on the edge of the box as he wins a free kick under a challenge from Schneiderlin. Lamela's free kick is curled into a dangerous area, but Fonte responds well to head away.

YELLOW CARD! Kaboul becomes the first player to be cautioned after bringing down Mane 30 yards from goal.

Mane dusts himself off to take the free kick which follows Kaboul's tackle, but his speculative effort is blocked by the Tottenham wall.

We didn't see much of Rose as an attacking threat in the first half, but he does well to skip past a couple of defenders on his way to delivering a dangerous cross, which is well cleared by Fonte.

Koeman might feel the need to change something soon. Losing the ball on the edge of the box is becoming a common theme, despite seeing his players look very comfortable in midfield. They're struggling to use the wider areas as Spurs make the pitch look very narrow.

Excellent from Kaboul as he gets ahead of Pelle at the near post to clear a dangerous cross from Clyne. Spurs then deal with the corner which follows, and the pressure is relieved once again.

Spurs launch a very fast counter-attack, with a number of players getting forward, but the move ends in disappointment when Chadli's effort strikes Bertrand and goes behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Half chance for the visitors as Davis finds space to pull the ball back for Pelle, but the striker takes too long to unleash a shot and he is eventually crowded out inside the box.

SAVE! Lloris comes to the rescue to get a strong hand on Wanyama's powerful shot from the edge of the box after Kaboul had gifted a chance to the midfielder with a poor clearance.

YELLOW CARD! Lamela never looks too eager to bring out his defensive side, and he is rightly booked for pulling back Bertrand as the full-back looked to launch a Southampton attack.

Spurs look to be happy to work on the counter in the second half. The lead is in the bank, and Southampton's only real chance has come from a mistake. Of course, the next goal is going to be vital.

If Spurs can see out the victory from here, plenty of credit must go to Mason and Capoue, who won't steal many headlines but have stuck to their task very well in midfield. Pochettino has seen enough to suggest that Mason, in particular, will enjoy playing this pressing style of football.

After taking a moment to praise Capoue, he gives Southampton a free kick in a dangerous position with a foul on Mane. Fortunately for the Frenchman, Rose is able to see the ball out at the back post after Davis hits his cross too firmly.

A few appeals for a penalty from the home fans when Adebayor collects a clever Eriksen pass before going down under pressure from Fonte, but there didn't look to be anything illegal going on.

SUBSTITUTION: To be honest, it's a surprise that Koeman has taken this long to turn to the bench, but he has used his first change to replace Wanyama with Long.

YELLOW CARD! Tadic needlessly tugs back Rose, and he picks up a booking for the foul. Southampton are running out of time.

Worryingly for Southampton, it's Spurs who are enjoying a good spell of pressure as the visitors are forced to clear a couple of dangerous deliveries from Eriksen, the latter of which came from a corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino uses his second change to bring Mousa Dembele on for Eriksen.

It's Spurs who now look the most likely to find a late corner as Southampton clear another corner following an unconvincing punch from Forster. This could be a very big result for Pochettino and his players.

CHANCE! It should be 1-1. Just as it looked like the Southampton challenge was fading, Bertrand delivers a brilliant cross for Mane, who somehow manages to send the ball wide of the target with a weak finish. What an opportunity for the visitors.

Southampton are pressing now, but Spurs are doing well to get defenders behind the ball as the visitors enjoy an extended spell of possession outside the box. Will there be a late twist?

Kaboul and Vertonghen are leading by example with a number of clearances late on. One minute plus stoppage time remaining in North London.

The fourth official confirms that there will be three minutes added on.

SUBSTITUTION: Pochettino uses the first minute of stoppage time to bring on Kane for Lamela, who gets a warm reception from the home fans.

Southampton are desperately searching for a way through, but Spurs are handling everything being thrown at them in the closing stages. It looks like all three points will go to the hosts.

It's all over at White Hart Lane. Christian Eriksen's fine effort has made the difference as Spurs return to form to hand Mauricio Pochettino a win against his former side. Southampton's impressive run of results come to an end in the capital.

That's all from our live coverage, but there will be plenty of reaction and analysis on the way. Thanks for joining me this afternoon.