Football Today
·19 December 2024
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·19 December 2024
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke after watching him in action against Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham edged past Premier League rivals United 4-3 in North London in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Thursday evening.
Solanke started the match for Spurs. The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker led the line for Ange Postecoglou’s side in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The 27-year-old England international scored twice for Tottenham. Solanke found the back of the net first in the 15th minute when he pounced on United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s error.
The striker added to his tally in the 54th minute. It was his ninth goal in all competitions this season, and former Liverpool defender Carragher was impressed.
The Sky Sports pundit admitted that he did not think that Solanke’s £55 million (BBC Sport) move from Bournemouth to Tottenham in the summer of 2024 would work out.
Carragher said about Solanke on Sky Sports Football (10:15pm, December 19, 2024): “I must say about Solanke. I wasn’t sure about the move when he came here. Not for him. I was wondering whether it would be too big for him.
“He had been at Chelsea as a young boy, did really well at youth levels and international level, went to Liverpool, found it tough, which is understandable with the front three Liverpool had at the time.
“But he didn’t make any sort of impact at all even from the bench or the odd little game here and there for Liverpool. Went to Bournemouth, did well. And I looked at that and I thought, I am not sure.
“But I think he has got nine goals already this season, but it is not just about the goals. It’s his hold-up play, his touches around the corner, his pressing, and I think that was a big night for him tonight coming against Manchester United, always has got a great record against them, but he looks like a top centre-forward now.”
As Carragher noted, Solanke did not have the best of times at Chelsea and Liverpool, but he got his career on track at Bournemouth and has done relatively well for Tottenham so far this season.
Solanke scored 21 goals and gave four assists in 42 matches in all competitions for the Cherries last season.
It is unlikely that the striker will repeat his goal-tally from last season for Tottenham this campaign, but the signs have been very encouraging lately.
Solanke is playing regularly now, and it seems as though he is enjoying turning out for Tottenham. Scoring twice against United is going to be a massive boost for the striker.
If Tottenham are to end up in the Premier League top four this season and are to win the Carabao Cup, then Solanke will have to turn on the style.