Dele Alli’s strike steals limelight as Tottenham strengthen Champions League bid

Hodgson, drawn to his native south London by the rare prospect of watching 10 Englishmen start a Premier League match, watched Harry Kane score his 12th goal in 14 League matches with a towering header.

Dele Alli’s stunning propelled Tottenham to a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Tottenham had looked relatively comfortable during the opening 20 minutes, dominating possession as they so often do but without really cutting Palace open.

“Dele’s goal was a fantastic goal and it showed his quality”. Tottenham’s 19-year-old young star may have just scored the goal of the year as Spurs beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on the road.

Lloris: Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen (Wimmer, min. 75), Rose; Son, Eriksen (Bentaleb, min. 88), Dier (Chadli, min. 56), Dembele, Alli; Kane.

Alli hit the crossbar in the final minutes, and substitute Nacer Chadli curled in the third in injury time.

Pardew said: “Hennessey will play Saturday, but he’s battered and bruised”.

“After 95 minutes the result was fair”.

Crystal Palace have lost all three of their Premier League games since the turn of 2016 and have a goal difference of -8 from these games (0 goals scored, 8 goals conceded).

Phil Thompson says Alli’s effort will be goal of the season.

Jan Vertonghen put through his own net on the half-hour to hand the hosts the lead, only for Harry Kane to level on 63 minutes with a powerful header.

Spurs’ best chance of the first half came through Rose who saw his close-range volley expertly held onto by Wayne Hennessey, who appeared to show glimpses of the form that saw him awarded Palace’s December player of the month.

Crystal Palace’s 2-1 win over Tottenham in January previous year was Alan Pardew’s first league game in charge of the Eagles.

Tottenham on the other hand are looking to safeguard their top four status and, though not much has been mentioned in public, within the dressing room they may be pining for a Premier League title challenge.