Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool that Tottenham forwards Harry Kane and Son Heung-min will pose a “massive” challenge for his quadruple-chasing team.
Klopp’s side, one point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City with four games left, can go top of the table if they beat Tottenham at Anfield on Saturday, with City facing Newcastle 24 hours later.
But fifth-placed Spurs are battling to finish in the top four and Reds boss Klopp is concerned about the potential damage that Kane and Son – with 43 goals between them in all competitions this season – could do.
“Tottenham have massive quality,” he said Friday. “Especially away from home, they are not too bothered about having the ball all the time, stuff like this. They defend compact and then obviously they have some of the best counter-attacking players in the world.
“Up front they have speed like crazy – Harry Kane, what a player, and obviously fits in that idea extremely well. There’s a blind understanding between them [Kane and Son], so I’d say it’s probably the biggest challenge for protection we face for a long time.”
Liverpool are on a high after sealing their place in the Champions League final against Real Madrid by beating Villarreal this week.
In contrast, City were left reeling by Real’s astonishing escape act in the other semi-final, eventually losing 6-5 on aggregate.
But Klopp is wary about writing off City too soon, expecting them to respond this weekend.
“City are good,” he said. “It was a massive blow for them, that was really harsh. I’ve had nights like that. It’s not cool, the next morning, not cool, but then there’s a moment you have to focus. They will be ready for Newcastle on Sunday.”
With the League Cup already in the trophy cabinet and an FA Cup final to come against Chelsea next weekend, Liverpool are in contention to become the first club to win all four major trophies in a single season.
Yet, Klopp does not believe Liverpool will be favourites when they face 13-time European champions Real on 28 May in a repeat of the 2018 final won by the Spaniards.
“They are now the massive favourites with all the experience they have and all these kind of things,” said Klopp. “We are more experienced than we were, probably, but it’s obviously not to compare.
“They got through against PSG [Paris Saint-Germain], Chelsea and City. If you knock out these three guys, then you definitely deserve to be in the final.”
