[ad_pod ]

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has launched a scathing assessment on Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris when speaking to TalkSport.

What's the word?

Tottenham skipper Hugo Lloris returned from injury for this week's Champions League showdown with Barcelona and had an evening to forget, making a dreadful mistake in the opening minutes that allowed Philippe Coutinho to put the Catalan giants ahead.

Mauricio Pochettino's side went on to lose the game 4-2, a result which leaves Spurs at risk of seeing their European campaign go up in smoke after previously losing to Inter Milan, and Lloris has faced vast criticism since.

Tony Cascarino is the latest to have his say on the France World Cup winner and make an outlandish claim by suggesting that Burnley trio Nick Pope, Tom Heaton and Joe Hart are all better goalkeepers than Lloris in comments made to TalkSport.

What was said?

"Hugo Lloris is Tottenham’s club captain and he’s won the World Cup, but I don’t actually think he’s that good.

"He’s a great shot-stopper, he’s always had that ability, but I’ve never felt he’s been that commanding. He’s lightweight, he’s not very good with the ball at his feet and he makes rash decisions, he comes tearing out of his 18 yard box.

"I’ve never felt he’s going to be a goalkeeper that leads Tottenham close to a title. He’s a bit of a liability at times for Spurs and it’s cost them in some big games. He has these brainstorms in his game every now and again.

"I look at Lloris and I just think there are better goalkeepers out there who could be the number one for Spurs, and I think that will be the next thing Pochettino will do. I’d argue that Burnley have got three goalkeepers who are every bit as good, if not better, than Hugo Lloris."

Is he right?

Lloris has certainly endured a dramatic decline in the past year or so and is guilty of making a number of high-profile mistakes for Tottenham but Cascarino's comments go a step beyond, with his outlandish claims somewhat laughable.

[brid autoplay="true" video="303880" player="12034" title="Watch Fixture in Focus Liverpool v Man City"]

Hart, Heaton and Pope are very good goalkeepers for Burnley but comparing them to Lloris, who has of course recently lifted the World Cup with France, is an assessment that is far from the truth. He may be on the decline but he's not a 'liability' - yet.

Lloris certainly needs to improve and Pochettino will surely dip into the market for a replacement if he doesn't during the remainder of the season but it is far too soon to hang the 31-year-old out to dry, as he has plenty of years in him yet.