Dele Alli: Jamie Carragher likens Tottenham midfielder to young Wayne Rooney

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli is similar to a young Wayne Rooney. The Spurs midfielder is facing the prospect of a three-game ban after he appeared to strike West Bromwich Albion defender Claudio Yacob with a punch during the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.

The incident was missed by the matchday officials, but the player has subsequently been charged by the FA. Following the game, Carragher said Alli – who was involved in similar incidents earlier in the season – is prone to losing his cool during games, much like Rooney in his younger years.

"He's been involved in these things now and again. There was the Europa League game against Fiorentina earlier this season [when he kicked out at a player who was on the floor]," Carragher told Sky Sports of the Tottenham midfielder. "You like the fact that he's got something about him.

"From the start of the game Yacob wound Alli up. Alli wasn't too happy about a challenge early on, so right from the start he fell into a bit of a trap. People will try and wind him up because they know he's got a bit of a short temper. There's a little right hook to the rib cage there."

Carragher compared Alli's fiery attitude to Rooney during his early years and claimed the Tottenham star would learn from his experience against WBA. "These were the type of situations Wayne Rooney was involved in earlier in his career. A fireband, who wanted to be involved and be very competitive," Carragher said.

"That's what Alli's like. [The West Brom game is] going to be a massive learning curve for him. Situations like that, especially next season with Spurs in the Champions League, foreign referees, he's going to be in situations with people winding him up."