EPL: Spurs lose Alli in Fulham win

Harry Winks’ first goal since 2016 handed Tottenham a last gasp 2-1 victory at Fulham yesterday.

Harry Winks scores his side’s injury time winner. Picture: Getty Images.

Harry Winks’ first goal since 2016 handed Tottenham a last gasp 2-1 victory at Fulham yesterday but at a cost, with Dele Alli joining a lengthy injury list for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

Already shorn of Harry Kane until March with ankle ligament damage and Son Heung-min away at the Asian Cup with South Korea, Alli’s absence for a packed few weeks ahead is another huge blow to Tottenham’s challenge in four competitions.

However, Spurs remain in third in the Premier League and can at least can now count on a seven-point cushion over fifth-placed Arsenal and Manchester United in the race for a top-four finish.

Fulham on the other hand are now seven points off safety and look set to return to the Championship after just one season back in the top flight.

But boss Claudio Ranieri still believes a great escape is possible if his side can match the levels they reached in a first-half display that should have yielded more than a 1-0 lead at the break.

“We are alive, we continue to fight,” said Ranieri.

After splashing more than £100 million ($179m) in transfer fees to little success in the summer, Fulham last week added Dutch international Ryan Babel until to the end of the season from Besiktas. The former Liverpool winger’s pace and strength made an instant impact against an unsettled Spurs defence as Pochettino switched to a back three. Babel brushed aside Davinson Sanchez for the first big chance, but Hugo Lloris made the first of a series of fine saves to bail out the visitors.

Fulham’s bright start was rewarded 17 minutes in, courtesy of a stray Tottenham leg, as Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, starting for the first time in the league this season in Kane’s absence, miscued a Jean Michael Serri corner into his own net.

Spurs were level soon after the break as Christian Eriksen’s dinked cross to the back post picked out Alli to power home a header. Alli limped off four minutes from time and substitute Georges-Kevin N’Koudou had a telling impact when his wicked swinging cross was met perfectly by Winks’ burst into the box.

AFP