Dele Alli celebrates with Kieran Trippier
Dele Alli spent seven years at Tottenham Hotspur
Ex-Tottenham Hotspur star Kieran Trippier believes the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino marked the beginning of Dele Alli's decline.
Trippier, who played alongside Alli for four years at Spurs, previously shared his thoughts on why the 28-year-old's career has struggled to regain momentum since Pochettino's departure from the north London club.
Alli is currently training with Everton, despite not having a contract with the club, as he works to revive his career. However, his progress has been hindered by injuries, having suffered a setback in October. He's since suffered a hamstring injury last month in his latest set back. It's been over 18 months since his last competitive match, which was during his loan spell with Besiktas in the 2022/23 season.
Once touted as a key player for England, Alli's form began to dip after Pochettino was replaced by Jose Mourinho in November 2019, just six months after Spurs' 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League final.
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In an interview with Under The Cosh, Trippier, who left Spurs for Atletico Madrid in July 2019, discussed Alli's close relationship with Pochettino during their time at Tottenham. He said: "Poch was brilliant with Dele to be fair and Dele was flying at Tottenham.
"It's one of those where I left and went to Atletico Madrid and he was there for two years after. But even during my last season there he was flying, he's a great lad, but Poch was brilliant with him."
Dele Alli at an Everton pre-season match in 2023
While Alli doesn't have a contract with Everton, he's continued training at Finch Farm
In the final year and a half of his Spurs career, Alli found himself on the fringes under Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Antonio Conte, managing to net just five goals in 47 appearances across all competitions.
Spurs ended up parting with Alli, who joined Everton on loan in January 2021. The England international made his Toffees switch permanent a year later. Despite the change of scenery, the midfielder remained out of form and played just 13 games before he was sent on loan once again to Besiktas with the Turkish giants having an option to make the move permanent.
Alli managed just 15 games in Turkey before he returned to Everton in April 2023 after picking up a hip injury. He hasn't played a game since coming back to England with his deal with the Blues having expired at the end of the last season.
While he remains without a contract, he's been at work at the Toffees' training ground at Finch Farm in order to earn a contract under Sean Dyche. Should the 28-year-old find a remarkable return to form and fitness in Merseyside, the struggling Premier League side will surely enjoy having a player of Alli's calibre on their hands.
After 13 games played, Everton sit a lowly 15th with two wins in 13 games and take on Liverpool on Saturday (December 7) in the last Merseyside Derby ever to be played at Goodison Park.
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