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Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is quicker than Harry Kane but the Tottenham striker compensates for this in other areas of his game. Photographs by PA and Getty Images. Composite: Jim Powell
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is quicker than Harry Kane but the Tottenham striker compensates for this in other areas of his game. Photographs by PA and Getty Images. Composite: Jim Powell

Romelu Lukaku v Harry Kane: how the Everton and Spurs strikers measure up

This article is more than 7 years old
The 23-year-old forwards, two and a half months apart in age, face one another on Sunday. Both have 17 Premier League goals this season – but who scores more highly across our nine categories for these leading No9s?

TWO-FOOTEDNESS

Romelu Lukaku Strongly left-footed and the moment he gets a run on a defender with the ball on his favoured side is the moment Goodison Park expects. That said, there has been a marked improvement in his finishing with his right foot over the past two seasons, a reward for the extra training he has put into that aspect of his game. 7/10

Harry Kane When the ball sat up for Kane on the edge of the area against Stoke City last Sunday, he still had plenty to do. But the technique was perfect, the left-foot connection pure and the ball fizzed home. Not too many players can do that with a supposedly weaker foot. 8

HEADING

Lukaku Should be better for a centre-forward with his physical attributes – the Belgian has won 47% of aerial duels this season – but, as with finishing with his right foot, he has been rewarded for working on that flaw. Only Olivier Giroud and Salomón Rondón have scored more headed goals this season than his four. 7

Kane The image of Kane scoring with that header against Arsenal in February 2015 will live long in the memory but he is not a No9 who routinely dominates in the air. Tottenham are not a balls‑into‑the‑box team and when their full-backs get forward they often cross low or cut the ball back. 6

SPEED

Lukaku He has been clocked at 35km/h – the fourth-fastest striker in the Premier League this season, behind Shane Long, Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy. Can be unstoppable once he sets off in pursuit of goal, as the Sunderland defender Bryan Oviedo discovered to his cost when the striker sealed Everton’s 2-0 win last weekend. 9

Kane His top speed, as recorded by Opta, does not put him in the Premier League’s jet-heeled set but it is his burst over the first couple of yards, together with his ability to muscle in front of defenders, that represents a key part of his skill-set. 7

Harry Kane, left, scored a first-half hat-trick against Stoke City. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

POWER/PHYSICALITY

Lukaku Few Premier League forwards can rival Lukaku for both power and precision. As he once said: “If I get the ball and start running just get out of the way because you’ll be on the floor.” There are times, however, when Lukaku lacks aggression and does not impose his physical strength enough. 9

Kane Credits Mauricio Pochettino’s fitness regime at Tottenham not only with giving him an extra yard of pace but making him more muscular. Kane has always been strong but since his breakthrough season in 2014-15 he has come to be able to bully defenders. 8

Lukaku A facet of his game that still requires improvement. Roberto Martínez, the previous Everton manager, strived to improve the striker’s link-up play with the likes of Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu but his first touch remains a source of frustration and pales in comparison, say, with that of Diego Costa, whose control enables Chelsea to break with devastating effect. 6

Kane Such a direct player and his first instinct is to run in behind defences. As such, he does less of the back‑to‑goal work. He does, though, serve as an effective focal point in Pochettino’s formation, adept at bringing team‑mates into play. 7

FINISHING

Lukaku “World-class”, according to Ronald Koeman, who has compared the Belgian with the finest finishers of his own playing era – Marco van Basten included. Likewise, the new signing Morgan Schneiderlin was instantly taken by the striker’s quality in front of goal. “Romelu is up top with the No1 finisher I have seen,” says the former Manchester United midfielder. Arguably his strongest asset. 9

Kane This is the area that puts Kane on another level. He likes to get his shots off early, normally after no more than one touch – something he says he learned from Jermain Defoe – and he has honed his technique over hours on the training ground. More often than not, though, his instinct takes over. He has converted 27% of his chances in the league this season. 9

MENTAL STRENGTH

Lukaku Maybe it is because he has made more than 200 first-team appearances and always comes across as a mature, intelligent character that his age – only 23 – is often overlooked. He has faced several difficulties – the dream move to Chelsea turning sour, his father falling ill and, shortly after he joined Everton permanently, his close friend Junior Malanda dying – and yet continues to improve. 8

Kane His composure is startling. He is obsessed by staying in control and it is difficult to remember him losing it. He is immune to the intimidation tactics of defenders. “Anyone can miss a chance,” he says. “But it’s how you react. Are you ready for the next one? That’s my mindset.” 9

Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Sunderland at Goodison Park. Photograph: Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images

TEAM ETHIC

Lukaku Constant talk of wanting to play in the Champions League did not help Lukaku with Everton fans towards the end of last season but there can be no faulting his professional reaction to being priced out of a move. Selfish in front of goal, as he should be, but recognises his responsibility to the team – as his willingness to play with injury (he has missed only one league game this season) attests. 7

Kane As a boyhood Tottenham fan who has risen through the ranks, there is no doubt that his connection to the club is total. Like any supporter, he wants the team to do well, first and foremost, and this comes through in his words and deeds. He is popular in the dressing room, partly because of his lack of ego. 9

WORK RATE

Lukaku Ask Koeman to identify one aspect of Lukaku’s game that needs to improve, and this would be it. The Everton manager has been a frequent critic of the striker’s pressing – or lack of – since succeeding Martínez and an average distance covered of 8.93km per game is the lowest among his Premier League peers. There has been evidence of Koeman’s advice being heeded in recent weeks, however. 6

Kane Pochettino’s system and style ask a lot of the lone striker but Kane shows every week that he is willing to run himself into the ground. Works to close down defenders and drag them out of position, he can cover 13km in a game. Has averaged 10.7km in the league this season. 8

Lukaku total 68

Kane total 71

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