Shaun Wright-Phillips thinks João Pedro deserved a penalty during Tottenham’s 1-0 win against Watford.
The former Premier League winner suggested that Hugo Lloris’ challenge on the Watford player is a ‘free-kick’ outside of the box, and therefore, was a foul inside the box, as he told Premier League Productions (01/01/22 at 5:10 pm).
Before Davinson Sanchez scored a stoppage-time header to win the game for his side, the home team felt they should have been awarded a penalty.
Lloris came rushing off his line to deal with Pedro running at him with the ball, and during his challenge, he did take the man as well as the ball.
Wright-Phillips suggested that Tottenham’s man between the sticks got lucky because Watford should have been awarded a spot-kick.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that it’s a clear and obvious error,” said Wright-Phillips.
“For me, the reason why I would call it a penalty is that, if a player makes a tackle like that outside of the box, and gets that little much of the ball and stops the player from progressing, then they get a free-kick.
“My argument is, why is it any different inside the box?”
Another game and another outstanding performance from Lloris in between the sticks.
During a campaign where Daniel Levy sacked a manager after four months, one of his most experienced players has probably been his best player this term.
But the World Cup winner’s contract expires in the summer and it will be interesting to see if Antonio Conte keeps him on.
One thing is clear, if he doesn’t, then he will probably have to search the market for another keeper because on-loan backup option, Pierluigi Gollini, hasn’t exactly shone bright since he was brought in.
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