The last thing that Tottenham Hotspur needed yesterday was another injury to worry about. However, when Dele Alli was played through on goal and the flag went up, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford deemed it necessary to clatter the Spurs man. The tackle was a shocker, and Alli was substituted shortly after at half-time as a precaution.
46 – A change at the break:
#EFC 1-3 #THFC pic.twitter.com/xd5IgGtLGz
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) 23 December 2018
Whilst Tottenham fans are currently in limbo over their star man, not knowing the extent of the injury, they can only pray that Mauricio Pochettino’s claims after the game that it doesn’t look serious can come through. If Dele was to spend another spell on the sidelines it would just add to their already long list of injuries that they’ve had to deal with this campaign, and it’s a totally needless one.
Jordan Pickford failed to pick up a card for his horror challenge, and it was one that could easily have seen the England goalkeeper dismissed on another day. Dele was played through on goal, only for the flag to go up, but as he charged towards goal, Pickford came out and slid in for the ball. The on-rushing ‘keeper got nowhere near making contact with the ball, and instead the Tottenham man felt the full force of the challenge and landed awkwardly, jarring his hamstring.
You can read the Lilywhites’ verdict on Pickford and Dele’s injury here:
Hope it’s precautionary and not an injury
— lazza m (@lazza1957) December 23, 2018
Fs injured coz of Pickford
— Tom (@tombates333) December 23, 2018
Pickford
— Freddie [Exams] (@Freddie_LR) 23 December 2018
Pickford
— tomas laitinen (@tomaslaitinen2) 23 December 2018
Incredible that Pickford wasn’t booked or sent off for that disgraceful challenge.
— 🏏Gareth McCarter ⚽️ (@g2mcc) December 23, 2018
Thanks Pickford
— Richard (@rdeacon977) December 23, 2018
Liked pickford before today…only hatred for him today onwards..#COYS #THFC #Dele #jordanpickford
— Spurs India 🙌 (@JuanfoythCDM) December 23, 2018
How to give another message to Pickford, is score another goal, don’t mess with us mate. You deserve it Pickford
— Cyrus Wong (@Cyrusyh2019) December 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/DanielStancombe/status/1076886563165011970
Tottenham fans on Twitter won’t be forgetting that disgraceful challenge from Pickford anytime soon and they’ll just be desperate for their man to be able to recover swiftly.
