Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson has said that Liverpool defenders are in for a tough game when they come up against Harry Kane in their clash versus Tottenham this weekend.
The Reds will play host to the side sitting third in the table knowing that victory will keep them top of the pile regardless of how Manchester City get on against Fulham, although Pep Guardiola’s side will have a game in hand over Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Speaking ahead of the crunch tie, Thompson has insisted Virgil van Dijk’s personal battle against 25-year-old Harry Kane will be a determining factor and predicts serious trouble for the Liverpool defence.
In a live interview with Sky Sports News, he stated (27/03, 12:40): Spurs are always a top side, everybody loves the way they play the game. They have confidence, they have a top class manager.
“(Kane v Van Dijk) It’s massive, isn’t it? Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in Europe if not the world. You love him, as an ex-player you see in this guy a centre forward, his work rate – he can drop off in that number 10 role, which makes it very difficult.
“Van Dijk will have to be, and Joel Matip if he is at centre back – when he drifts off from those positions, do you go with him, do you stay? If you do go with him you’ve got the runners in Dele Alli or Son who run in the spaces behind you. He makes it very difficult, Harry Kane. He scores all sorts of goals. Van Dijk and Joel Matip will both have their work cut out.”
Opinion
This is the sort of individual duel that gets football fans drooling. In Harry Kane you have one of the best strikers, both in terms of his goal scoring ability as well as his overall influence on his teammates, in world football right now, while in Virgil van Dijk you have a centre back who has time and again dominated whichever attacker he has come up against. Of course, the Dutch international and his teammates cannot focus too heavily on the English hitman with Spurs possessing a range of talents who can hurt the Reds at Anfield if given the chance. It promises to be a humdinger of a showdown and one which could be crucial for both clubs come the end of the season, with Liverpool chasing the title and Tottenham battling for a top four finish. Whoever wins out of Kane and van Dijk could well send their side to the all important three points come full time.
