'He's half the player he was' - Neville & Keane blast Dele Alli

  /  autty

Gary Neville and Roy Keane believe Dele Alli's performance against Liverpool on Sunday was further proof that the midfielder has regressed significantly as a player over the past couple of years.

‘Very very poor,' said Keane. 'He’s a great example to a lot of footballers out there if you lose your hunger. Spurs were carrying three of four players. He’s lost that hunger, today non-existent.’

‘He needs to hear those words because I think he can take it', Neville responded. 'It’s not like he’s always had it on a plate, he’s come from the lower leagues. But he’s half the player [he was].’

Souness concurred, saying: ‘I thought he was going to be a star. I think he’s a classic case of someone who’s in his armchair. They gave him a four/five year contract, and look what’s happened. He’s taken his eye off the ball but he’s a shadow of himself. Got to learn the game.’

Carragher also feels a change in position has had a negative impact on Alii's career.

‘When he was at his best he was playing as a second striker. I’ve never seen Dele Alli as some great player on the ball. He got goals. We shouldn’t forget the position he was playing. He’s still got to do a lot more. He was about being aggressive a lot.’

‘A lot of that comes down to desire,' Keane added. 'He was nasty, played on the edge. Today, non-existent for a year or two. Unless you’ve got the hunger. If he’s a model of some sort, he does have to look in the mirror…’

Neville put the final nail in the coffin, stating: ‘He would always tackle, always work hard, run past the striker… today he was passive. He’s a good kid. I just thought it epitomised where Tottenham have been.'

Related: Tottenham Hotspur Gary Neville Graeme Souness Salah Alli
Latest comments
Download All Football for more comments