Kane denies diving to win penalty: I definitely felt contact and went down

Harry Kane has set his sights on joining the Premier League’s 200 club as he dismissed claims he dived to win a penalty at Anfield.

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk accused the England international of going to ground too easily for the first spot kick Tottenham were awarded during Sunday’s 2-2 draw; Kane was brought down as Loris Karius charged from his goal in an attempt to cut out danger.

Kane believes Liverpool’s goalkeeper was responsible for the situation coming to a head and believes the decision was far more clear-cut for referee Jon Moss compared to the injury time episode with Van Dijk, when Erik Lamela tumbled over after they tangled in the area.

‘He (Karius) has dived; he has got in the way and I'm a player, I'm not going to jump out of the way,’ said Kane. ‘It's football. I've definitely felt contact and I've gone down. Lamela's one I thought the linesman (Edward Smart) showed amazing character to give that.

‘A lot happened for the first one around the linesman (who initially flagged that Kane was offside as he ran on to Dele Alli’s ball) so to give that penalty was massive – and it was a penalty.’

Though Kane missed that penalty, sending his effort straight at Karius, he was nerveless in the final second of injury time, sending the German the wrong way to final move into three figures in the Premier League – he achieved the feat in just 141 games.

He has been outstanding over the course of the last four seasons but, given he is only 24, there is no limit to what he might achieve – assuming Tottenham can repel interest from Real Madrid for their talisman.

The only players to score more than 200 goals in the Premier League era are Alan Shearer, who reached that landmark in April 2002, and Wayne Rooney, who joined him earlier this season when scoring at Manchester City in August.

Shearer got to 200 in just 306 games – Rooney did it in 462 – but if Kane was to match his current ratio for the next century, he could potentially hit that target in 24 fewer appearances than the Newcastle legend, who had a statute erected outside St James’ Park in his honour.

‘It has to be the aim – and hopefully quicker than I got to 100,’ said Kane. ‘It is nice, I am going to enjoy the moment, but let's see how many I can get this year and go from there. I've never even thought of (having a statute). In football anything can happen, I've always said that.

‘I'm not thinking about a statue; I'm just thinking about what's best for the team. Hopefully I can get better and better. I am 24 years old, that's not young but it's not old so I've still got a lot of learning to do. I feel I am getting more experience year by year.

‘I am getting stronger and more physical and hopefully that just continues. I will always keep trying to work hard and get better and hopefully that will be the case. I've said that from the very first time I got put on the scene.

‘That is what separates good players from great players: can you do it consistently year after year? Can you get better and better when people don't expect you to? That's what I've done so far. That is always my mind-set to never let up. It is a short career and I'll try to do as much as I can in it.’