A look Dele Alli’s quietly-brilliant display in Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Everton

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Tottenham managed to deliver an assured performance to overcome in-form Everton and make it nine successive home victories in the Premier League. The victory has consolidated their position in the top four and another season in the Champions League is looking likely. This was billed as a difficult match for the home side, but they passed the test with flying colours. The 3-2 scoreline flattered Everton, who didn’t do anything of note until the 80^th minute. Mauricio Pochettino will be disappointed by the two lapses in concentration, but there are plenty of reasons to be positive.

Dele Alli has overcome a difficult period after being sent off against Gent in the Europa League. He was excellent on Sunday and was one of the best players on the pitch. It will be Harry Kane that takes the headlines, but Alli was equally as good and he is quickly emerging as one of the most consistent midfielders in the league. There isn’t a better goal-scoring midfielder in England and it is exciting to imagine how good he could become. He is at the right club for his development and his performance on Sunday underlined his importance to the side.

He maintained his impressive goal-scoring record with his 13^th of the season. It was a great finish after some quick thinking from Harry Winks set up the opportunity. The goal turned out to be the one that clinched the three points for his side. Alli attempted three shots during the match and was a constant threat throughout. His movement was excellent and it his intelligence in the final third that allows him to consistently score goals. At the age of 20, he is competing with the very best players in terms of goals and is now finding the consistency to match.

During the match, Alli’s link-up play was impressive and he was often picking the right pass. He completed 86% of his passes and showed an intelligence to his game that hasn’t always been there this season. It was his awareness that created Harry Kane’s second goal. He quickly sensed that Everton weren’t comfortable in possession and pinched the ball in the final third, before putting the ball on a plate for the league’s top scorer. It was a goal that would have pleased his manager, as Pochettino asks his team to play at a high intensity and Alli has obviously taken that on board. Since moving to White Hart Lane, he has added a tactical understanding that he previously lacked and that contributed to this assist.

In addition to his goal threat and creativity, Alli was dangerous when he chose to run with the ball. He completed both of his dribbles and made good ground on both occasions. However, he could still become more effective in possession. The England international was dispossessed on two occasions and is still sloppy with the ball at times. That is understandable given his age, but it is something that will improve with experience. That said, his youthful exuberance is vital to his style of play and it is crucial that Tottenham don’t coach it out of him.

The duo of Kane and Alli is exciting and it is incredible that Tottenham got the pair for next to nothing. It highlights the value of having a good coaching set up in place as both have improved immensely under Pochettino. The latter went under the radar today, but he was very impressive. At the age of 20, his goal total is excellent and it is only likely to grow before the end of the season. He has an outside chance of reaching 20 goals and that would be remarkable for a midfielder of his age.

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