Premier League 2019/20: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Bournemouth, 5 Talking Points

Modified Dec 03, 2019 13:59 GMT

Dele Alli scored twice today as Tottenham beat Bournemouth 3-2

#2 Should Bournemouth have stopped Spurs’ first two goals?

Both of Alli's goals were set up by long balls over the top of Bournemouth's defence

Both of Dele Alli’s goals were wonderfully finished by a player who is definitely hitting a rich vein of form right now, but Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe should still be furious that his team allowed them to happen. Both of the goals were primarily set up in the same way – a long ball over the top from inside the Spurs half from Toby Alderweireld.

Sure, Alderweireld’s long passes didn’t bounce and were phenomenally weighted and delivered, but should a defence really be allowing sides to create goals like that? The second goal in particular was worrying for the Cherries, as Alli was surrounded by defenders and still managed to wriggle his way through to score.

Outside of those moments, Bournemouth defended well, with Nathan Ake looking strong and rookie Jack Stacey impressing against Harry Kane, Heung Min-son, et al, but Howe will probably have his defence drilling against long balls come Monday’s training session.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram