Newcastle-linked Dele Alli made his first Premier League start under Antonio Conte against Liverpool on Sunday.
With Spurs hit by COVID problems, Alli was thrust into Conte’s starting XI. It was the first time he’d started a game in the league since the North London derby defeat to Arsenal back in September.
Despite a change of manager, things were yet to improve for Alli. While Spurs have been climbing the table, the midfielder remained out of favour.
That led to a report from the Telegraph stating that Tottenham want to get rid of the 25-year-old in January. It was also reported that Newcastle could make a move to sign him on loan.
It was a rumour that received mixed reviews. Some were excited about the prospect of seeing Alli at St James’ Park, while others had no desire for him to move to the North East.
But perhaps attitudes will change after Alli’s performance against Liverpool. The England international looked back to his best at times, and came very close to scoring his first Premier League goal from open play since March 2020.
Alli was tenacious in midfield, while he was a constant attacking threat with his runs from deep. It was a great performance from the ex-MK Dons man, and Conte was impressed too.
But will Alli’s showing against Liverpool influence what happens to him in January? Could this be the start of another renaissance at Spurs?
If not, it could be good news for someone like Newcastle. His performance versus the Reds certainly caught the eye, as he rolled back the years. Perhaps PIF and Amanda Staveley will be more tempted to make a move after seeing his return to the Spurs starting XI.
If he can perform like that on a consistent basis for the Magpies then he’d be a wonderful addition. But it’s a big if.
Toon target Dele Alli dazzles Spurs fans
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