Tempers flared across several Premier League grounds on Saturday.
We saw Troy Deeney attempt to squeeze Joe Allen’s head clean off, we saw Mark Noble look to take out his frustrations on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and we saw Dele Alli go head-to-head with Ashley Young.
On a monster weekend for British boxing, England internationals Alli and Young squared off at Old Trafford in the opening stages of Manchester United’s victory over Spurs in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Alli, who is known to have something of a short fuse, was targeted with a number of no-nonsense challenges from the hosts throughout the game but he had no issue getting in Young’s face.
The pair went forehead to forehead but referee Jon Moss had a word and urged them to come to their senses so as not to spoil the game.
As the players jogged away from the official, they exchanged a few words and some amateur lip readers at home reckon they’ve worked out what Young shouted in Alli’s direction and, if they’re right, it’s an absolutely savage putdown from the United man.
Ashley Young just said “when you win a prem let me know” loooooooolll
— En Aitch Ess (@adje__) October 28, 2017
Young telling deli alli "when you win the prem let me know" 😂👏 today has been epic for my veins 💉💉
— Laver (@laayver_Matt91) October 28, 2017
Ashley Young saying to Dele Alli when you win the prem let me know 😂😂😂 legend #MUFC #UTFR
— Cozzy Matt (@cozzy_matt) October 28, 2017
Premier League regulations dictate that we can’t show you the footage but we assure you that it does indeed look like Young shouts: “When you win the Prem, let me know.”
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville gave some insight into what would likely have been going through Alli’s head in the exchange.
“His heart would have been saying ‘I want to break your nose’ but his head would have been saying ‘don’t lose the game for my team’,” Neville said.