Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville disagree over Harry Kane’s role in Abdoulaye Doucoure’s red card

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were once again at odds on Monday Night Football over Harry Kane’s role in Abdoulaye Doucoure’s broadcast at Goodison Park.

Everton salvaged a 1-1 draw against Tottenham on Monday thanks to a late Michael Keane stunner, which came after Kane put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot 22 minutes from time.

Before his opener, the Spurs striker was also heavily involved in the first of two red cards on the night Doucoure was given his marching order for shoving him in the face.

He fell to the ground in dramatic fashion after receiving the contact, leaving referee David Coote with no choice but to send the Everton midfielder off, but Kane’s reaction sparked controversy both at Goodison and on social media.

Many accused the English captain of exaggerating Doucoure’s contact to influence Coote’s thinking, while the Toffees faithful conducted chants of ‘cheating’ for the rest of the evening.

Carragher was one of Kane’s critics that night, calling his role on the broadcast “embarrassing.”

Although, of course, the Liverpool legend’s opinion ran counter to that of co-pundit Neville, who instead defended Kane to spark another impassioned debate between the two.

Neville: ‘There is no discussion about a red card at all, Doucoure raises his hand, the only discussion is whether Harry Kane should go down. Harry Kane should never go to the floor, if the shirt buckle falls on the eye, that shocks you. That’s very different from a hand in the face.’

Carragher: “The debate isn’t about a red card and Harry Kane shouldn’t go down like that, it can still be a red card for putting your hand in someone’s face, Doucoure is wrong and I’m sure Dyche will tell him will tell that, I wouldn’t go there as a player, there’s no way enough contact to go down. If I did that on a field I’d be embarrassed, if I saw my son do that, yes it could help his team win with an opponent down to 10 men, it gives you an advantage, if he gets back get in the car, I would say, “what are you doing, never do that on a football field”.

Neville: ‘I’m a lot nicer than I was 15 years ago. When Harry Kane is standing there, we are talking about Champions League football. If he gets up, that might be yellow because it’s considered a hand-off. Harry went down, whether he should have or not, it’s to make sure Kane got sent off. It’s part of the game that people don’t like but in our dressing room as my striker we’re there to win games you could call it cheating but you can’t put your hand in someone’s eye with such a belt buckle .’

Carragher: ‘It wasn’t in his eye. I do not like it. I won’t have a problem with players doing that, but I don’t like it. Maybe I’m contradicting myself here, you’re doing a slow…”

Neville: How can that not be in his eye. A finger in one eye, the other in another eye.

Carragher: ‘I have no problem with people ducking or trying to win a penalty. What I don’t like is players going down to send fellow pros off the field. I have no problem with someone going down to try and win a penalty or free kick to be fair we are talking about a Tottenham player but there is an Everton player Richarlison all the Everton supporters said that I sat with Richarlison, not the fact that he goes down, but that he stays down and rolls around. You’re trying to tell me he can’t stand.’

Neville: ‘I feel like you’re making history here. You were a terrible defender who used every dark art available and argued for every decision more than anyone who ever played. If your strikers gave out you would want him sent off and if he didn’t you would challenge him.’

Carragher: “No, I wouldn’t.”

Neville: Now you’re an expert in a suit, it’s fine. When we go to our changing rooms we go well done Harry you sent him off. I wouldn’t do that, but I wouldn’t mind if my striker did. I’ll give Harry the benefit of the doubt, he’ll dive, but nails going in your eyes can shock you.’