Sly Leicester prove their title credentials with victory at Tottenham

Jamie Vardy's penalty and Toby Alderweireld's own goal push Foxes to within four points of leaders Liverpool

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy celebrates after his header led to Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld scoring an own goal on Sunday. PA

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane speaks with referee Craig Pawson Pool. reuters

Leicester's Jamie Vardy, left is hugged by Leicester's manager Brendan Rodgers after being substituted during the match against Tottenham Hotspur. AP

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale had a tough match. Reuters

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy heads towards goal leading to Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld scoring an own goal. PA

Jamie Vardy of Leicester celebrates after Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham scored an own goal. EPA

Tottenham's Premier League title hopes suffered a setback, as Leicester moved above Jose Mourinho's men into second spot with a 2-0 away win on Sunday.

Jamie Vardy's penalty and a Toby Alderweireld own goal moved the Foxes to within four points of leaders Liverpool as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min failed to rescue Spurs.

Tottenham were top of the table until a last-minute goal for Liverpool gave the champions a 2-1 win on Wednesday. And now, successive defeats could mean Spurs drop out of the top four by the end of the weekend should Manchester United or Chelsea win their games.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp described Spurs as a "counter-attacking monster", but their deficiencies when not allowed the ability to break were exposed by Leicester. The Foxes did not leave themselves exposed and posed the greater threat in transition.

A cagey first-half of precious few chances included James Maddison's long-range shot well held by Hugo Lloris, while Kane headed over Son's corner.

But Tottenham were undone by a moment of madness by Serge Aurier in the dying moments of the first half when he barged into Wesley Fofana just inside the area.

A VAR review was needed before referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot, and Vardy drilled home his sixth spot-kick of the season to give Brendan Rodgers's men the lead.

Mourinho saw enough in the first 45 minutes to throw on Gareth Bale for the second-half for his first Premier League minutes in six games.

But in keeping with the Welshman's second spell in North London since rejoining on loan from Real Madrid, Bale struggled to make any impact.

Only a few millimetres denied Leicester a second in a bright start to the second-half for the visitors when Maddison latched onto a ball over the top from James Justin and fired beyond Lloris. A VAR review ruled the goal offside.

Mourinho had sacrificed Tanguy Ndombele to bring on Bale and then lost his other midfield creator, Giovani Lo Celso, to a hamstring injury.

Lucas Moura replaced the Argentine to form a front four alongside Kane, Son and Bale, but Spurs became disjointed by the changes and were easily picked off by Leicester on the counter-attack.

Tottenham inflicted more damage on themselves for the second goal as Vardy's header at the back post was turned into his own net by Alderweireld.

Kasper Schmeichel showed his class with a sensational stop to deny Son turning home a corner at the back post and giving Spurs a lifeline 20 minutes from time.

Leicester should have won by a more comfortable margin as Youri Tielemans blazed over a great chance and Harvey Barnes' appeal for a second penalty was turned away.

But two goals were enough for Rodgers to get the better of Mourinho for the first time in his managerial career and show that Leicester deserve to be taken seriously as contenders for a top-four finish.