Alli double helps Spurs sink 10-man Southampton

Reuters: Tottenham Hotspur kept up the pressure on the Premier League’s top four after coming from behind to beat 10-man Southampton 4-1 thanks to two goals from Dele Alli and one apiece by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min on Wednesday.

Alli cancelled out Virgil Van Dijk’s second-minute opener before Kane fired Tottenham ahead and missed a penalty after Southampton winger Nathan Redmond hacked down Alli and was sent off.

England midfielder Alli produced a superb individual performance and stressed it was crucial that Spurs kept their composure after falling behind.

“It’s never nice to concede a goal that early in the game and it was important that we didn’t lose our heads and didn’t panic,” he told Sky Sports.

“We stuck to the game plan and after we put the first one away it was a good game. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, they are a great team and have some fantastic players.”

Kane was expecting a tough match against Southampton.

“We have come here and scored four in a comfortable win. We’ve got another game in a few days and we’ve got to focus on that,” he said.

Spurs, who stayed fifth in the table with 36 points from 18 matches, one behind arch-rivals Arsenal and three adrift of third-placed Manchester City, visit 10th-placed Watford on Sunday.

Southampton, who are eighth with 24 points, are at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The Saints had Tottenham on the ropes in the opening 15 minutes as Van Dijk headed in a James Ward-Prowse free kick before Redmond shot just wide of the far post.

But the tide turned after Alli rose to head home a deflected MoussaSissoko cross from the left and Kane fired the visitors in front with a thumping header from a corner.

The England striker then blazed his spot-kick over the bar after Redmond was dismissed for hauling down Alli, but the home side were punished again for throwing caution to the wind in the closing stages.

Substitute Son rounded off a swift break for Tottenham’s third in the 85th minute and Alli put the icing on the cake two minutes later with an equally superb finish into the bottom left corner after neat footwork.

Liverpool thrash Stoke to delight manager Klopp

​Reuters: Liverpool chalked up an emphatic 4-1 win over Stoke City on Tuesday that left manager Juergen Klopp purring with delight after they fought back from an early deficit to keep their Premier League title challenge on track.

Goals from Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino put the home side ahead by halftime and they romped to victory with a Giannelli Imbula own goal and Daniel Sturridge strike after Stoke threatened an upset with a Jonathan Walters header.

The victory took Liverpool to 40 points from 18 games and back into second place, six points behind league leaders Chelsea, a point above Manchester City, who are in third spot, and three in front of fourth-placed Arsenal.

“It was a very difficult game,” Klopp said. “The result doesn’t show it but it was difficult because it was the third or fourth time we’ve played Stoke with (ex-Liverpool striker Peter) Crouch on the pitch and that is a sign of how they want to play.

“We scored a wonderful goal and then the second one. We regrouped again and told the players that the movement was not as good as it could be and we (then) controlled the game.

“It was pretty clear Stoke could not play the same (sort of) half again. It was intense for them, they pressed high and were aggressive. We did better with the ball and deserved this result.”

Asked about Liverpool’s chances of a first league title since 1990, Klopp added: “We watch football and know the results but this is not when the season will be decided. If Chelsea win all the games they will be champions and they will deserve it.”