Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Complete Player-by-Player Breakdown
Two of the Premier League's most promising outfits meet at Anfield on Saturday evening, as Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Merseyside, with both sides looking to return to form after the international break.
Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs sit second in the league table, five points behind leaders Leicester City, with the north London club poised to challenge for the title at the business end of the 2015/16 campaign.
Meanwhile, despite stuttering form throughout the season, Jurgen Klopp is plotting a strong finish with European qualification in his sights; with a game in hand on fifth-placed West Ham United, a win over Spurs could put the Reds within touching distance of next season's UEFA Europa League.
While Pochettino must be commended for the transformation he has presided over at White Hart Lane, his and Klopp's squads remain in their fledgling stages and will no doubt only improve over the years.
But who boasts the best starting lineup heading into Saturday's clash?
Here, we provide a position-by-position breakdown, with each player graded subjectively based on individual quality and this season's form, with a heavier weighting on performances since the turn of the year—to restore parity, given Klopp's arrival in October.
Starting off with respective goalkeepers Simon Mignolet and Hugo Lloris, here is Bleacher Report's complete overview of Saturday's high-profile encounter.
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet vs. Hugo Lloris
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Simon Mignolet
Mignolet has struggled to win over supporters since his move to Merseyside in 2013, a situation compounded by a number of shocking errors, spreading nerves throughout the Liverpool defence—in the league this season, the Belgian has made five defensive errors, more than any other goalkeeper.
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old remains an impressive reflex goalkeeper, with his ability on the goal-line hugely impressive. When he keeps it simple, Mignolet does provide a reasonable platform to build.
Grade: B-
Hugo Lloris
Signed in a deal worth up to £12 million in 2012, Lloris stands as one of the Premier League's bargains of the decade, with the France international a top-class sweeper-goalkeeper in the mould of Germany's Manuel Neuer.
Lloris' key strengths are his agility and reading of the game, operating as a front-footed last man for Pochettino's Spurs—though this comes at a price, with the former Lyon man committing four defensive errors this season.
He is ranked alongside Joe Hart, Thibaut Courtois and David De Gea as one of the league's finest.
Grade: A
Right-Back: Nathaniel Clyne vs. Kyle Walker
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Nathaniel Clyne
Signed for £12.5 million last summer, right-back Clyne was the safest bet former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers could make as he looked to build for stability in 2015/16.
While Rodgers has since left Merseyside, the former Southampton man has continued to produce consistent displays on the right-hand side of Klopp's defence, pairing defensive strength with diligent supportive work in attack.
At the age of 24, Clyne could be an excellent, all-round right-back for the Reds if he continues to develop.
Grade: B+
Kyle Walker
Unlike Clyne, Walker began the campaign in an unfavourable position in the eyes of supporters, with his erratic displays at right-back over the previous four seasons at White Hart Lane compounded by a pair of injuries in 2014/15, and an own goal in his first appearance of the season—Spurs' 1-0 loss to Manchester United.
Despite this, Walker has knuckled down and subscribed to Pochettino's full-back demands and, aided by sensible rotation as the Argentinian makes use of Kieran Trippier, he is now a competent, top-four right-back.
Grade: B
Centre-Back: Dejan Lovren vs. Toby Alderweireld
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Dejan Lovren
"What can I say about Dejan Lovren? I heard about before I came here, and I saw in his eyes when I came here, that he was not in the best situation," Klopp told reporters, per Liverpool's official website in March, underlining the Croatian's precarious position at the club prior to a change in manager.
Battling injury and the ire of supporters, Lovren now stands as one of Klopp's first-choice centre-backs, and he has contributed to 10 of Liverpool's 15 clean sheets under the German.
He still has a way to go before establishing himself as a mainstay on Merseyside, but Lovren has overturned a dismal 2014/15 campaign.
Grade: B
Toby Alderweireld
Lovren is Klopp's current first-choice selection on the right of Liverpool's centre-back pairing, but if his predecessor, Rodgers, and the club's fabled transfer committee explored their options last summer, they would have acknowledged the availability of a former target: then-Atletico Madrid man Alderweireld.
However, the Belgian joined Pochettino at Spurs in a deal worth just £11.5 million and has imposed himself as one of the Premier League's best centre-backs.
He has been a league ever-present for Spurs this season, playing a key role as Pochettino's side have conceded just 23 goals in 31 games.
Grade: A+
Centre-Back: Mamadou Sakho vs. Kevin Wimmer
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Mamadou Sakho
Burnley midfielder Joey Barton perfectly summed up Reds centre-back Sakho at the beginning of March, taking to Twitter to describe the Frenchman as "the most unorthodox, efficient, unbalanced, effective defender on the planet."
The France international is a rewarding enigma: a lofty, ungainly defender blessed with a strong intuition and remarkable finesse.
When free of injury, Sakho is Liverpool's best centre-back—though he has struggled to maintain his fitness in 2015/16.
Grade: B+
Kevin Wimmer
With Jan Vertonghen a doubt for Saturday's trip to Anfield with a knee injury, summer signing Wimmer should continue his role alongside Alderweireld in Pochettino's back four.
This should be no concern for the manager, however, with the Austria international progressing swiftly following his £4.3 million move from FC Cologne in May.
Wimmer has played a key role as Spurs have conceded just six goals in their last nine league games, with B/R's Thomas Cooper describing him in February as a defender of "solid simplicity," highlighting his position as an effective, no-nonsense centre-back—though lacking the grace and composure of Sakho or Vertonghen.
Grade: B
Left-Back: Alberto Moreno vs. Danny Rose
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Alberto Moreno
The sight of Klopp bellowing at a rampaging Moreno on the Liverpool touchline has become a familiar one for supporters throughout 2016, with the Spaniard enduring a disappointing drop in form following a bright start under his new manager.
At 23, Moreno has a long way to go in his development, but he currently lacks the positional sense that Klopp requires at full-back—something a similar progressive option at his former club Borussia Dortmund, Poland international Lukasz Piszczek, achieved.
At present, Moreno looks far from a long-term option for Klopp.
Grade: C
Danny Rose
Rose made his England debut in the Three Lions' 3-2 win away to Germany at the end of March, with manager Roy Hodgson acknowledging the left-back's resurgence in form following the arrival of Pochettino at White Hart Lane.
For many seasons a reasonable prospect in Spurs' defence, Rose has now developed into an accomplished Premier League left-back—like Walker, aided by Pochettino's rotation, and the support of Ben Davies.
Grade: B+
Central Midfield: Emre Can vs. Eric Dier
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Emre Can
Something of a footnote to resounding criticism for Liverpool's 2014 summer spending, the £10 million sanctioned to sign Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen could go on to stand as one of the best decisions the club has made under owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner.
Under Klopp this season, Can has been moved from defence to his natural role in midfield, and he has duly shone, with his power, vitality and tactical intelligence allowing him to thrive in the box-to-box role.
However, as Can told German publication Kicker (h/t the club's official website) during the international break, he still lacks a level of consistency—though, at just 22, this can be expected, and this is a midfielder of genuine, world-class potential.
Grade: B
Eric Dier
Joining Rose in Hodgson's starting lineup at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Dier made his mark on the international stage by scoring the winner with a fine, bullet header beyond a sprawling Manuel Neuer—this goal belied the Spurs man's enduring strengths, however.
The 22-year-old is at his best prowling in the holding-midfield role, offering Spurs stability in Pochettino's 4-2-3-1.
Something of a revelation in 2015/16, Dier is one of the Premier League's most impressive defensive midfielders, and he can continue to grow into a top-level option in north London.
Grade: B+
Central Midfield: Jordan Henderson vs. Mousa Dembele
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Jordan Henderson
Since assuming the role of Liverpool's permanent captain on the departure of Steven Gerrard last summer, Henderson has struggled to produce a sustained level of form in the Reds' midfield—largely due to troubling foot injuries, including persistent heel problems, that have led him to miss 12 league games.
Though a diligent runner and a tidy creative talent, Henderson has so far lacked the thrust required to drive Klopp's midfield to victory on a consistent basis, with much to prove as the German looks to add to his side this summer.
Grade: C
Mousa Dembele
Enduring a similar period of strife in 2014/15, Dembele has addressed his poor form and produced an emphatic turnaround—now representing one of Pochettino's most important players, playing a key role in the Argentinian's midfield, as B/R's Sam Rooke detailed in March.
"His great physical strength, in combination with phenomenal ball control, allows him to either glide past opposition players or just bounce off them. Either way, he simply does not concede possession," Rooke explained. "With him on the pitch, Spurs have the best midfield in England."
Grade: A
Right Wing: Adam Lallana vs. Erik Lamela
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Adam Lallana
Per Riath Al-Samarrai of MailOnline, Pochettino outlined his belief in Lallana's ability to shine at the top level of the Premier League in October.
"Lallana is a great, unbelievable player, one of the best in England. Lallana can adapt his skill to different styles," he explained, drawing on his experience of managing the midfielder at Southampton, "For me, he is one of the best players in England."
Only recently, following Klopp's arrival, has Lallana begun to vindicate this stance—with three goals and three assists in his last six games. The 27-year-old's high-intensity pressing game is key to the German's tactical outlook.
Grade: B
Erik Lamela
Much like Lallana, Lamela arrived at his club hampered by a big-money transfer fee—joining Spurs from AS Roma in a deal worth £25.8 million in 2013—and struggled to impose himself in his first months at White Hart Lane.
Since Pochettino's arrival, however, the winger has enjoyed a surge in form, typically employed as a grafter on the right-hand side of Spurs' 4-2-3-1 formation, as well as scoring nine goals and laying on a further six in 38 appearances this season.
He's not the star his price tag suggested, but Lamela is key to Spurs' success.
Grade: B+
No. 10: Roberto Firmino vs. Dele Alli
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Roberto Firmino
Liverpool made a clear statement of intent bringing Firmino to Merseyside last summer, with the Brazilian arriving from Hoffenheim in a deal worth up to £29 million, as the Reds looked to take further measures to replace Luis Suarez—11 months after the Uruguayan's move to Barcelona.
After a slow start, Firmino has underlined his potential as Liverpool's new attacking linchpin, scoring nine goals and assisting on a further nine since Klopp's arrival in October.
He is set to continue this progress throughout 2016 and beyond.
Grade: A
Dele Alli
According to the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce, Liverpool turned down the opportunity to sign Alli from MK Dons in 2014, with the Reds' transfer committee balking at the then-League One side's asking price—the midfielder eventually signed for Spurs for £5 million, which now represents a bargain fee.
Alli has quickly become one of Pochettino's key players and a regular fixture in Hodgson's England side, having already scored seven goals and registered nine assists in 29 Premier League games.
Grade: A
Left Wing: Philippe Coutinho vs. Christian Eriksen
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Philippe Coutinho
While the likes of Sakho, Can and Firmino are key players in Klopp's Liverpool squad, one man stands out as the Reds' marquee name: their Brazilian No. 10, Coutinho.
The 23-year-old provides Liverpool with a much-needed X-factor, and he has continued to progress following Klopp's arrival—with emphatic displays in wins away to Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa among the most impressive under the German so far.
However, unlike Firmino, when Coutinho is out of form, it is instantly recognisable. There is much work to be done before he can be considered one of the Premier League's very best players.
Grade: B+
Christian Eriksen
Like Coutinho, Eriksen was signed as a No. 10, but ultimately shifted out into a regular role on the left wing to accommodate another star player—for Liverpool, that is Firmino; for Spurs, it's Alli.
Nevertheless, Eriksen has continued to perform to a high standard for Pochettino's side, serving as Spurs' primary creative outlet and adopting his manager's intensive pressing game admirably.
At 24, he is slightly behind Coutinho in terms of influence, but the Dane is not far from his counterpart's quality.
Grade: B
Centre-Forward: Daniel Sturridge vs. Harry Kane
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Daniel Sturridge
After enduring a nightmare period of injuries and struggles with match fitness, Sturridge has returned to take up a regular role in Klopp's attacking line as the 2015/16 campaign reaches its conclusion—moving ahead of Christian Benteke and Divock Origi in the German's pecking order.
When fit and firing, Sturridge is one of the Premier League's most formidable strikers, but with top form so far eluding him, the 26-year-old must content himself with a tally of seven goals in 14 appearances.
This is a respectable output for any striker in the English top flight, but Sturridge will want more from himself.
Grade: B
Harry Kane
While Sturridge fights for form, his England team-mate, Kane, has enjoyed another remarkable season in Spurs' No. 10 shirt.
Starting in all 31 of his side's Premier League outings so far this season, Kane has scored 21 goals, putting him on course to beat Jamie Vardy to the 2015/16 Golden Boot award. His composure in front of goal makes him a devastating prospect at the age of 22.
Kane could well surpass Sturridge in Hodgson's plans for the UEFA European Championship this summer, and it would be deserved—as Spurs' academy product is having an exceptional campaign.
Grade: A+
Statistics via Squawka.com and Transfermarkt.co.uk.
