Paulinho Tottenham
Tottenham's Paulinho, right, scored his fifth goal of the year in his squad's 3-1 victory over Fulham. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur remained in fifth place and Europa League qualifying with its 3-1 victory over relegation-endangered Fulham in Premier League play on Saturday at White Hart Lane.

Spurs are three points back of Everton and the win keeps Manchester United at bay for now. Fulham has now surrendered an EPL-worst 77 goals and are two-points behind Norwich City with three matches remaining to avoid relegation.

Midfielder Christian Eriksen’s well-placed and timed free kicks assisted two of Tottenham’s goals, and the Danish now has eight assists this season and four in the last five matches.

Eriksen’s first assist came in the 35 th minute when he perfectly lifted the ball above Fulham’s back line to Paulinho’s right foot in front of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Steve Sidwell provided Fulham’s only goal of the match after making the most out of a nearly broken play. Sidwell dribbled through Spurs midfield, played an inadvertent give-and-go with midfielder Alexander Kacaniklic and quickly recovered from a late tackle to power his shot through and equalize at 1-1 in the 37th minute.

Taking full advantage of Fulham’s dysfunctional back line, two minutes into the second half Harry Kane took Tottenham’s lead back with a touch header in front of the net after midfielder Aaron Lennon placed a perfect cross from the sideline. Spurs were up 2-1 and never looked back.

Erickson’s final free kick assist wound up on the knee of Younes Kaboul and Spurs extended their lead to 3-1 in the 62nd minute.