Stoke City's Mark Hughes has heaped praise on Tottenham following his side's 4-0 defeat to Spurs on Monday night.

Mauricio Pochettino's outfit hammered the Potters pillar to post at the Britannia Stadium to cut first-placed Leicester City's lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points, prompting words of adulation from an impressed Hughes.

"You have to acknowledge the position Tottenham are in at the moment, and you can understand why because they are an outstanding team," he told Sky Sports.

"They were a little quicker to everything, more powerful and had a little bit more quality in key areas and we found it difficult to cope with the threats they had.

"We were nowhere near what we can produce on a good day, but Tottenham had a little bit more devilment in their play, and a little more pace and power.

"We are not the only team to struggle to cope with Spurs this year."

Harry Kane and Dele Alli helped themselves to braces as Tottenham recorded a 19th league win of the season which puts them within striking distance of a first title since 1961.