Rio Ferdinand: Harry Kane ‘simulated’ to win penalty vs Everton, need Dominic Calvert-Lewin back
Rio Ferdinand says Harry Kane “simulated a little bit” to win a penalty against Everton, and feels they need Dominic Calvert-Lewin back quickly.
The Toffees were beaten 2-0 by Spurs, in part thanks to a Kane penalty that was controversially awarded after a collision between himself and Jordan Pickford, with many suggesting that the striker initiated the contact.
But Ferdinand, speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast [17 October], felt that despite Kane simulating it was a penalty and the return of Calvert-Lewin to the side will greatly benefit an “inconsistent” blues side.
“No way,” he said. “He might’ve simulated a little bit but Pickford touches him and he goes down. It’s a penalty.
“If one of your strikers done that you’d say, ‘that’s why I pay ya, that’s why you’re here, well done, dispatch it,’. Would you or would you not? Or would you turn around and put your hand up and say ‘no it weren’t a penalty.’
“He simulated because there was contact.”
Ferdinand also shared that he feels Everton need Dominic Calvert-Lewin back in the side as soon as possible to get them firing again.
“I think they’re inconsistent. I think it’s two wins, two draws and two losses in the run of six games. It’s not the end of the world.
“They need Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit and firing.”
Fire power
Everton have sorted their defence out this season under Frank Lampard, conceding very few goals in comparison to last season and results have been much better.
But they’re still yet to address the problem they have faced which is a severe lack of goals, despite the arrivals of Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay during the summer transfer window.
Calvert-Lewin is finally fit again and managed to come off the substitutes bench in the losses to both Manchester United and Tottenham, and hopefully he will be able to start games in the near future.
An added option with a completely different profile and style will be a huge boost to this side, which has struggled massively with unlocking defences.
As a striker with a proven goal record in the league, Calvert-Lewin’s goals could be the difference between a relegation battle and a top-half finish, so Ferdinand may be spot on that he’s the missing piece.