Tottenham's Dele Alli idolises Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard for West Ham FA Cup final goal
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli says the only player who could make him "star-struck" is Steven Gerrard, singling out the former Liverpool captain's goal in the 2006 FA Cup final goal to deny West Ham the trophy as his standout memory.
West Ham led Liverpool 3-2 in the 2006 final at Wembley in injury time, but Gerrard struck a memorable long-range effort to force extra time and help Liverpool eventually win 3-1 on penalties.
Alli has been one of Spurs' standout players in their Premier League title challenge this season, having won praise for his confident attitude and combative nature on the pitch when facing more experienced rivals.
Despite his fearless approach so far, the 19-year-old says Gerrard - now at LA Galaxy in MLS - is the one player who would likely leave him lost for words.
Ahead of Spurs' trip to face West Ham at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday, Alli told FourFourTwo: "Steven Gerrard was someone I looked up to massively.
"I'd always try to copy him, right down to the boots he was wearing. It was his attitude on the pitch that stood out - you could really see how much he hated losing.
"The moment that stands out is the goal against West Ham in the FA Cup final. It was a great moment in a huge game, and a great finish too.
"It's one of the first goals I remember seeing.
"I had a picture with him when I was younger, but I've never spoken to him. I think he'd probably be the only person that would make me a bit star-struck!"
Tottenham could go top of the league if they beat West Ham at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday, though Alli faces a fitness test for the match.
Gerrard said earlier this season that he was disappointed Liverpool missed out on signing Alli before Spurs landed the youngsters from MK Dons.
ArticleSpurs starlet Alli idolises Gerrard for West Ham FA Cup heartbreakTottenham HotspurLiverpool FCWest Ham UnitedPremier LeagueFA CupDele AlliSteven GerrardWest Ham vs Spurs: 10 memorable Boleyn Ground battles
West Ham vs Spurs: 10 memorable Boleyn Ground battles
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1/11 Boleyn battles
With West Ham hosting Tottenham at the Boleyn Ground for the final time on Wednesday, Standard Sport looks back at 10 of the most memorable matches between the two capital clubs in east London…
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2/11 West Ham 1-6 Spurs (25/8/1962)
The Hammers were humbled as Jimmy Greaves starred for Spurs at the Boleyn Ground, netting twice as the visitors went 6-0 up before West Ham gave their fans something to cheer abut with a late consolation.
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3/11 West Ham 4-0 Spurs (8/2/1964)
Hammers fans will be hoping for a similar performance to the one their side turned in a little over 52 years ago. Ronnie Boyce, Johnny Byrne, John Sissons and future England World Cup hero Geoff Hurst scored for the Hammers, though the hosts eventually ended up finishing 10 places below Spurs in Division One.
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4/11 West Ham 4-3 Spurs (24/2/1997)
Current West Ham first-team coach Julian Dicks netted twice for the Hammers on his way to ending the season as the club’s joint-top scorer with Paul Kitson, who also scored in this dramatic match along with Boleyn Ground legend John Hartson.
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5/11 West Ham 2-0 Spurs (1/3/2003)
Plenty of players have moved between the two clubs in the past, and Les Ferdinand struck the opener having just left Spurs a couple of months beforehand. Michael Carrick then scored the second, though Spurs eventually had the last laugh as they snapped up the midfielder a year later. They then lost him to Manchester United - rinse and repeat.
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6/11 West Ham 3-4 Spurs (4/3/2007)
West Ham made a dream start as they went into half-time two goals ahead – with Carlos Tevez’s celebration a highlight - and looked to be heading for a win despite a Tottenham fightback as they led 3-2 five minutes from time. But Dimitar Berbatov levelled with a minute to go before Paul Stalteri’s 94th-minute winner plunged the hosts into relegation chaos – only a controversial Tevez winner at Manchester United on the final day saved the Hammers from going down.
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7/11 West Ham 2-1 Spurs (7/5/2006)
The Hammers beat their London rivals on the final day of the 2005-06 season to painfully deny Tottenham Champions League qualification. Jermain Defoe struck for the visitors against his former club to level things up, but Yossi Benayoun’s late winner was enough to see Spurs – forced to field a host of players still visibly hurting from last-minute food poisoning - miss out on elite continental football to Arsenal. The game was dubbed “Lasagna Gate” by conspiracy theorists, and Spurs may want to pack their own lunchboxes this time around considering their title race with the Gunners…
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8/11 West Ham 0-2 Spurs (8/12/2008)
This one will bring back fond memories of Ledley King’s time as Tottenham, as the centre-back headed the visitors ahead in the second half before Jamie O’Hara sealed the win. Even the much-maligned Heurelho Gomes was on fine form, though reminiscing about King’s powerful display will have Spurs fans wondering what could have been had the defender’s fitness matched his talent.
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9/11 West Ham 2-3 Spurs (25/2/2013)
The Hammers gave almost as good as they got, but it wasn’t enough as Gareth Bale scored a last-minute stunner to break hearts at the Boleyn Ground. Bale had put Spurs ahead before Andy Carroll and Joe Cole put the hosts in front, but Gylfi Sigurdsson levelled before in injury-time wonder goal from Bale. Too bad for Spurs that performances like these led to the Welsh wonder signing for Real Madrid that summer.
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10/11 West Ham 2-0 Spurs (3/5/2014)
This was a happy day for the Hammers as they secured their Premier League safety with one game of the 2013-14 season remaining. Younes Kaboul was dismissed, Harry Kane scored an own goal and Stewart Downing netted to cap a perfect day for the hosts as they ensured their top-flight status for another year.
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11/11 West Ham 0-1 Spurs (16/8/2014)
Mauricio Pochettino got off to the perfect start as Spurs boss with a win in his first league game in charge of the club. West Ham made Spurs work hard with both sides reduced to 10 men, but Eric Dier struck in the 93rd minute to get his Argentine coach’s reign going – and Spurs haven’t looked back since.
2014 Getty Images