Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Klopp: Kane is world class, but so is whole Spurs team
JURGEN KLOPP has admitted he’s a member of the Harry Kane fan club – but hopes the Tottenham striker goes missing in action at Anfield today.
With a first title in 29 years tantalisingly close for
Liverpool, running into Kane at such a crucial stage of the season isn’t ideal for Reds boss Klopp and his stars.
Spurs and England hitman Kane is once again in the running for the Premier League Golden Boot having scored 17 goals so far in this campaign.
And that’s no surprise for Klopp, who has nothing but admiration for the way the 25-year-old star has forged a glittering career.
“He’s just a fantastic player. On Sunday, hopefully, you won’t see why I like him, but it’s the truth.
“I respect how he came up. His career is fantastic. Going on loan, I think there’s one picture where Jamie Vardy and
Harry Kane are sat together on the bench at Leicester.
“I wouldn’t want to be the coach at that moment!
“Harry did it the hard way. It’s not like he came up at 18 years old as a talent. He had to do it the hard way, and he had to improve day by day.”
Klopp also insists it’s not just down to Liverpool’s £75million star defender Virgil van Dijk (above) to stop Kane.
The German boss said: “It’s difficult to play against him. One alone against Harry Kane is really difficult. It’s like always with world-class strikers, you
have to avoid the passes to him. If you defend them, then Christian Eriksen shoots from 50 yards or whatever, or Dele Alli is in the box and makes a little header, or Son Heung-min runs in behind.
“It’s not just about Kane because Tottenham are a top team. But Harry Kane, what a striker. What a striker!
“And what a team Tottenham are. Goalie, outstanding. Fullbacks, different opportunities, outstanding.
“Centre-backs, really fantastic.
Midfield, not sure if
Harry Winks is fit, but what an outstanding young
English player.
“Then you have
Eriksen, Alli, Son – it’s unbelievable, that team.
“And if nothing is working, you can bring on Erik Lamela and then everything changes again.
“Mauricio Pochettino is just a brilliant coach. I can understand why they were not that concerned that they were not busy in the transfer market, because the team was really, really good already.
“Now they gain experience
and it makes them a tough opponent.”
Kane was a central figure in this fixture 13 months ago, scoring a controversial lastminute penalty in front of the Kop to salvage a 2-2 draw after earlier missing from the spot.
Despite hotly disputing the penalty award after Van Dijk fouled Lamela, Klopp admired Kane’s courage for slamming home the spot-kick.
He said: “There are reasons for that. You want to be the Golden Boot winner, so you cannot waste opportunities!”
Liverpool have suffered similar setbacks this season – with Klopp claiming those tough times are helping them in the title run-in.
“We’ve had wonderful moments, but also a few nice punches in the face,” he added. “We have had a lot of difficult moments, but the boys have dealt well with them. That is why we are where we are.
“That has allowed us not to feel the pressure. I don’t feel the pressure. We just go for it.
“Let us do it again, again and again. Don’t hesitate. That is the plan.”