STOKE-ON-TRENT -- Tottenham defender Ben Davies has said the players know their places are under threat if they fail to perform and believes competition is behind their positive start.
Spurs, traditionally slow starters, are unbeaten in their first four Premier League matches with two draws and two wins, and hit top form in Saturday's 4-0 rout of Stoke.
With Danny Rose injured and Erik Lamela rested Davies and Son Heung-Min, who scored twice, made their first starts of the season at Stoke, with £30 million signing Moussa Sissoko coming on.
And as Spurs prepare to face Monaco on Wednesday in their first Champions League game since April 2011, Davies told reporters after Saturday's win: "It's definitely a strong squad, and now the competition for places is probably the highest it's been.