Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admits Dele Alli's progress this season has shocked him.

While at MK Dons, Alli was driven up to Anfield by manager Karl Robinson and met then-manager Brendan Rodgers, only for the Merseyside club to stall on the deal.

Liverpool's loss has been Tottenham's gain, but Pochettino admits even he is surprised by the speed of Alli's progress.

"There is always a question mark with a young player," said the Argentine.

"You can assess his left and right foot, his performance on the pitch and in training. But how a young player can be affected by the big things that happen in football, being a senior player, being in the national team, this is always a question mark.

"You can be aware and try to support him, but I think that all the same it has surprised us how he has shown maturity."