Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness has praised Tottenham Hotspur forward Dele Alli for not diving in Spurs’ 2-6 victory over Everton.
Alli, 22, scored Spurs’ second goal in his side’s merciless six-goal rout of the Toffees on Sunday evening.
Does Dele Alli have a record for diving? Five things to know…
- Dele Alli has been booked for diving three times since making his Premier League debut in 2015.
- That is more than any other player during this period.
- He was accused of simulation in three games against Liverpool, Rochdale and Crystal Palace in February alone this year.
- Roy Hodgson, however, defended him while his teammate Eric Dier suggested critical ex-pros were hypocrites.
- Alli, for his part, explained there does not necessarily need to be contact for a player to be fouled or go down while trying to avoid stamping on opponents.
Alli, who also performed well against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last Wednesday, was singled out for praise by Souness, though some of the compliments were rather backhanded.
“This is a really good Spurs team, they’re a great watch, a good footballing team, [they] score goals, and away games will suit them because teams feel an obligation to get after Spurs and that suits Spurs down to the ground. They can pick teams off,” Souness said during Sky Sports.
Everton 1-3 Tottenham HT:
Shots: 4-11
Pass accuracy: 73%-83%
Chances created: 3-6
Possession: 44%-56%Goals from Son, Alli and Kane have put Spurs in control at Goodison. pic.twitter.com/FIVWuq5piX
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 23, 2018
Souness added: “They’re playing fabulous football. Dele Alli now looks like a player who no longer wants to go to ground with every challenge.
“He threw himself to the ground too readily last year looking for daft fouls. I didn’t think he got any better last year, but this year he’s improving again.
“He’s an extremely athletic young midfield player who, when you’re playing against him as another midfield player, you don’t want to play against his type because he’s always running you back to your own box.”
But Dele Alli could be out of action over Christmas…
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Spurs man against Everton on Sunday. Alli clutched his hamstring in discomfort after it appeared that Everton’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, kicked out at the England star.
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer described Pickford’s challenge as “disgusting” on social media and was outraged that Pickford wasn’t sent for an early shower with a straight red card.
Speaking after the game, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino appeared very concerned about Alli, who did not return to action after the first half.
“I didn’t see. I am very curious to see the action, I think it wasn’t a great action,” Pochettino told reporters.
“I don’t want to say anything because I didn’t see it. For some comment, I think it was a tough action.
“We will see if he is injured. I think he is tired, tight in his hamstring, but we hope it is not a big issue.”
The post Graeme Souness pays Spurs midfielder Dele Alli a backhanded compliment after Everton win appeared first on Squawka News.
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