Jermaine Pennant defends Dele Alli and criticises Tottenham’s Harry Kane instead

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Both Dele Alli and Harry Kane started for Tottenham Hotspur as they fell to yet another defeat in the Premier League over the weekend.

Jermaine Pennant has defended the much-criticised Dele Alli and questioned why Harry Kane isn’t receiving the same treatment as his Tottenham teammate.

Following Spurs’ defeat to the Premier League leaders on Sunday, Alli was one of the players slammed for his performances and lack of progress in recent years.

Kane started that match at Anfield, alongside Alli, as the England captain opened the scoring inside the first minute before the home team struck two second-half goals to win the game.

Speaking to Jim White on TalkSport (28/10/19), former Liverpool winger Pennant felt that more of the spotlight needed to be shined on Spurs’ popular figure Kane rather than Alli, who he thinks ‘got lucky’ with his goal on Sunday.

“Coming back from injury it’s very difficult to get back into the speed of it straightaway,” Pennant told TalkSport. “I watched the game, and yes he didn’t look on sorts, he didn’t look like he had that pace that he usually does. But to get the stick he’s getting I think is a bit harsh. Number one, he was out of position. I think his best position is behind Harry Kane.

“And who else did great? Kane didn’t do anything in my eyes. He got a lucky goal off the rebound off the post. Apart from that, I didn’t see him having amazing opportunities to score. He didn’t light up the game. Why isn’t he getting stick for being their captain, their top goalscorer for the past seasons. Why is he not getting the same criticism as Dele Alli?

“For the off-field stuff, that’s just an easy target. That’s an easy dig for Roy [Keane] to say that – you have to give Alli a little bit of time coming back from an injury like any other professional player.”

Whilst both Alli and Kane weren’t at their best at Anfield, Kane’s goals during these past 12 or so months, along with other players such as Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura, have carried Spurs.

The extra criticism, whether fair or not, towards Alli comes from the fact that he has been out-of-form for a long while now.

Added with that, Tottenham’s current situation whereby they are not performing in any competition they are playing in doesn’t help anyone’s cause at the club, including the manager.