Keane and Richards clash over Tottenham defeat – “It’s not confusing Micah”

Three second-half goals helped earn Chelsea a 3-0 victory over Tottenham, a result which took them to the top of the Premier League table after five games of the season

Roy Keane and Micah Richards may have become the most unlikely double act in recent years, but that doesn’t stop the two disagreeing on a weekly basis.

This week, the two Sky Sports pundits saw different sides regarding the Tottenham defending that allowed Thiago Silva to open the scoring for Chelsea.

Spurs were beaten 3-0 by their London rivals, the second time in as many games Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have fallen to that scoreline in the Premier League.

For the opening 45 minutes, Spurs were arguably the better side, pinning the visitors back with a high press from the front three.

But after failing to capitalise with a goal, the European champions came out of the blocks after the break a different side and after less than five minutes Silva’s thumping header had put them in front.

The Brazilian made a late run into the box and climbed over Dele Alli to fire past Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.

Analysing the goal, Richards heaped praise on Silva’s clever movement, while Keane opted to look at the defensive woes of Spurs.

Richards began: “It’s very intelligent the way he hangs out at the edge of the box. He was always going to get the advantage, take nothing from the header.

Keane then replied: “A lot of the time it’s about who wants to head the ball? We’ve seen his defending, he had a tough start if you remember last season, for one or two games he was shaky.

“But he’s had a year in the game, he’s used to the pace, he’s surrounded by brilliant players.

“When the ball goes into these areas, some people want to defend and head the ball, Spurs don’t have that. People not doing the basics, stopping runners, being strong.”

And then on the actual header, Richards continued: “If you’re a Spurs player you think he’s going to be on the edge of the box. He comes in, it’s where he makes the run from. By the time he [Ali] engages the ball is in the back of the net.”

With Keane having the final word, adding: “It’s not confusing Micah. It’s somebody going to attack the ball and head the ball.

“Good delivery, he put it in the right area of course but who really wants to head the football and that’s it.”

Following Silva’s goal, N’Golo Kante doubled Chelsea’s lead, before a late Antonio Rudiger goal put the Blues top of the Premier League by virtue of goal difference.