Reds boss wary of Kane threat
KLOPP: THE KEY FOR US IS TO STOP HIM GETTING THE BALL
He says keeping the striker at Spurs will be a huge challenge.
London
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes “worldclass” Harry Kane poses a bigger threat to his side than Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku did last weekend.
The Reds boss succeeded in dousing the threat from in-form United striker Lukaku in the goalless draw at Anfield although the job was made easier by Jose Mourinho’s cagey tactics.
But Klopp believes Kane, who has 15 goals in 15 appearances for club and country and 81 goals in 102 Premier League matches, is a different prospect.
“I don’t have to judge these two. They are both fantastic strikers,” he said yesterday. “The difference is that Harry is much more a part of the game even when he is not scoring – but I am pretty sure Lukaku can make these steps too.
“We stopped the balls to Lukaku and that must be a key for Harry as well but if we are too concentrated on one player then Dele Alli is everywhere or (Christian) Eriksen shoots from everywhere with decisive passes.”
Klopp believes Kane’s rise will present Spurs with a challenge over the next couple of years, with the player linked to European champions Real Madrid.
The Liverpool boss, who experienced a similar problem in the summer when Barcelona tried to sign playmaker Philippe Coutinho, had a word of warning for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
“It will be a big challenge for them in the next few years because Harry is not only one of the best strikers in Europe he is one of the best strikers in the world, 100 percent,” Klopp told the press at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground.
Klopp will go to Wembley to take on third-placed Spurs tomorrow without one of his most potent attacking threats as Sadio Mane continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained in the last international break.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has named the pacy forward in his squad for their World Cup qualifiers against South Africa on November 10 and 14, saying there is “no doubt” the player will be 100% fit.
Klopp played down those expectations, however, as the initial assessment from the club’s medical staff was up to six weeks, which would take Mane beyond those dates.
“I don’t know how he can know. I don’t even know,” said Klopp of Cisse. “Sadio is still in rehab indoors. He is not doing any exercises outside.” –