GARY NEVILLE labelled Jamie Carragher a “horrible defender” as the pair argued about Harry Kane’s scrap with Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The Everton midfielder was shown a straight red card in Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Goodison Park after clawing at Kane’s face.
Kane drew criticism from many pundits, including Carragher and Piers Morgan, for going to ground theatrically after Doucoure made contact.
And Carragher’s stance sparked a row in the Sky Sport’s studio as fellow pundit Neville tried to defend the England captain.
Manchester United legend Neville demonstrated how he saw the flare-up by putting his own hand in his old Liverpool rival’s face – insisting Kane could have gone down after feeling Doucoure’s fingernails in his eye.
But Carra was having none of it, adamant it only looked that way in slow-motion.
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A baffled Neville replied: “Oh my god, how can that not be in his eye? You can see one finger in one eye and one’s in the other.”
But Carragher added: “Harry Kane shouldn’t be going down for that. It can still be a red card for putting your hand in someone’s face, Doucoure is wrong. But I wouldn’t go down there as a player, there’s nowhere near enough to make you go down.
“The thing I really don’t like is players trying to get fellow professionals booked or sent off. I’ve got no problem with someone going down, winning a free-kick, jumping back up and getting on their feet.”
But Neville refused to let Carragher’s point lie and responded by referencing his character as a player.
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He said: “I feel like you’re re-writing history here. You were a horrible defender who used every single dark art that was available, you appealed for every decision more than anybody else that ever played, and if you’re strikers went down you’d want him sent off [Doucoure].
“Now you’re talking as a pundit with a suit on.”
Neville then finished by adding: “On a serious note, as a player, if we’re going in our dressing room’s we’re going ‘Harry, well done’.”
Kane went on to score a second-half penalty to give Spurs the lead over 10-man Everton.
But Lucas Moura then saw red for Tottenham, before Michael Keane scored a sensational equaliser in the 90th minute.
And other famous faces piled into Kane after the game.
Chris Sutton tweeted: “Harry Kane staying down like that is embarrassing.”
While Piers Morgan joked: “Thoughts and prayers for Harry Kane tonight – hope this savage blow isn’t career-ending.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk