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Christian Eriksen takes inspiration from Andrea Pirlo for free-kicks

Tottenham players congratulate Christian Eriksen (second left) after his 25-yard free-kick leveled the score 1-1
Image: Christian Eriksen has revealed the source of his free-kick inspiration

Christian Eriksen says he has taken inspiration from Andrea Pirlo after scoring two more direct free-kicks to help Tottenham earn a 2-2 draw at Swansea on Sunday.

Eriksen's strikes helped Spurs maintain their unbeaten run since losing to Manchester United on the opening day of the season and the Denmark international has now scored six direct free-kicks since arriving at the club in 2013 - more than any other player in the Premier League during that time.

"I've watched Pirlo taking free-kicks and he makes it look so easy," said the 23-year-old. "When he's there over the ball he knows what to do.

"But everybody has a different position of doing it. I know I have my own and it's working."

Eriksen, who earned the praise of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, said he had not even been practising free-kicks because of a knee injury which ruled him out for a month until mid-September.

"I've done it for many years but I haven't really done it since I was injured - I think my practice was in the game because we had a lot of free-kicks," he said.

"But I know what feeling I have to step over the ball and score. I've always had a good shot and take free-kicks.

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"At Ajax I only took them at the end of my time there, but at some point it turned after a lot of training and a bit of focusing."

Eriksen believes Spurs can continue to build on their promising start to the season in Pochettino's second campaign at White Hart Lane and says the open nature of the Premier League means Spurs can aim high this term.

"There's always been a good spirit here and, although some new lads have come in, everyone knows what they have to do," he added.

"It's a good mix and with the more games we get the more we know each other. We have had to learn a lot of things pretty quick but now we have the time to build on something and you can see we know what we're doing.

"Everything is still open because a lot of teams are losing points, but that makes it a fun season."

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