John Barnes: These are the two most important players for Tottenham (not Kane or Alli)
By Danny Wright
Liverpool legend John Barnes has said that Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama are Tottenham’s most important players.
Talking in the London Evening Standard ahead of Tottenham’s league fixture with Liverpool on Saturday, Barnes has said that the pair are more important to the club’s chances than Harry Kane.
“The top two teams I believe – forget [Eden] Hazard and Kane – their most important players are [Nemanja] Matic and [N’Golo] Kante and Wanyama and Dembele,” Barnes said.
“They shield the back four, provide stability and allow their teams to attack. Dembele can also play in an attacking midfield role – for me he’s a complete footballer.”
The duo have forged a brilliant partnership in the Spurs midfield this season and have helped Mauricio Pochettino’s side keep the pressure on league leaders Chelsea.
Dembele has impressed at White Hart Lane since arriving at the club in 2012 and while Wanyama only moved to the club in summer 2016, the Kenyan has wasted no time getting settled in and has started every Premier League game this season.
The pair have been central to Spurs’ recent form. Wanyama is the man to usually sit back and nullify any chance of an opposition counter-attack, while his partner-in-crime is the one who usually carries the ball forward to kick-start an attack.
The game against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening will be another tough test of their credentials, but all the current form is with the north London club.
Liverpool are on a wretched run that leaves them winless in 2017.
In other Tottenham news, Mark Lawrenson predicts Tottenham’s clash with Liverpool.
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