Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli is apparently “surprised” at how well Sheffield United have played this season.
The Blades came from behind to draw 1-1 with Alli’s side in the Premier League at the weekend. It means after 12 matches they are fifth in the table – three points ahead of Spurs.
Not only that but United are unbeaten in six league games away from home in 2019/20. That has included coming from 2-0 down to draw at Chelsea and winning at Everton. No newly promoted team has achieved that in 25 years.
Chris Wilder’s men have also beaten Arsenal, while only Leicester City have conceded fewer than their nine goals this term. Meanwhile, they have the joint most clean sheets with five, alongside Leicester and Manchester City.
George Baldock scored the equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – his first ever top flight goal. The wing-back used to play with Alli at MK Dons and spoke to his former teammate after the full-time whistle.
“I played for a long time with Dele Alli so I had a brief chat with him after,” Baldock told the Yorkshire Post. “He congratulated us.
MORE UNITED STORIES
“He’s watched us a few times on the TV and he’s been surprised with how well we’ve played. It’s lovely to hear things like that from such a top-quality player.”
Dele Alli isn’t the only Blades admirer
United’s impressive start to the new campaign has earned them and Wilder praise from a cross-section of the football world.
On Sky Sports’ The Debate, pundit Jermaine Beckford described the south Yorkshire side as “refreshing”. Alongside Beckford, Paul Merson called Wilder a “phenomenal manager”.
This comes shortly after similar praise from Match of the Day regular Alan Shearer, while Robbie Savage has tipped the 52-year-old for “a crack at one of the top jobs”.
Even two-time Champions League winner Jose Mourinho has been impressed by the Blades.