On Wednesday night, Tottenham came from behind at the Saint Mary’s to snatch a crucial victory – their 10th of the season and the result ensured Mauricio Pochettino’s charges will enter 2017 in top 5 on the Premier League log ahead of their last game of the first round of 19 fixtures coming against Watford on January 1.
Spurs’ victory against Southampton was Dele Alli-inspired, with the former MK Dons youngster initiating the comeback with the equalizer while also adding the 4th goal that served as the nail in the coffin in the 4 – 1 thrashing.
The English international broke a home record of the Saints’, as it’s the first time since November 1998 that Southampton have conceded 4 goals in a Premier League game at the Saint Mary’s.
And while Alli was at that record, he was making one of his own after becoming the 4th youngest player to make 50 Premier League appearances for Tottenham. Not only is the milestone a huge sign of big things to come from the 20-year-old, you can also actuality expect an English wonder kid to live up to the media hype this time around considering his return within this time frame.
In his half of a century Premier League appearances, the attacking midfielder cum winger has been involved in 26 goals for Tottenham, with his brace against Southampton ensuring he has scored 16 goals and assisted 10 others. This incredible return in front of goal in just one and a half top-flight campaign for Alli can only mean one thing – the boy is set for remarkably outstanding things in the near future.
The former League One player caught the eyes of English fans in August 2014 after he wowed with his performance in MK Dons historic 4-nil thrashing of Manchester United in the 2nd round of the League Cup. Tottenham immediately stole a march on many rivals by signing him 6 months later, and the rest as they say, is history.
In his debut season, his 10 goals in 33 Premier League appearances ensured he capped off an impressive campaign with Tottenham, well enough to earn him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2015-16 season, beating Ozil to that attacking midfield spot in the all-star lineup. He also emerged as PFA Young Player of the Year, just a little over a year after winning both awards equivalent at the Football League.
Alli has since established himself as an undisputed starter in the highly star-studded Three Lions squad and continues to get better. Since making his Premier League debut for Tottenham against Manchester United just a year after that career-changing display in the League Cup, Alli has gone on to create 82 chances asides his goals/assists.
In September, the midfielder put pen to paper to sign a new six-year improved contract, and you can be sure it’s just the first of many to come for this bag of talents. With a player like this, you can never rule out Tottenham out of a title race, and he and his cohorts aren’t even in their prime yet.