Moussa Sissoko will be Tottenham’s most important player at Liverpool
A healthy combination of tactics and injuries will force Moussa Sissoko into the spotlight for Tottenham when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
One year ago the very idea that Moussa Sissoko would play for Tottenham in a match against Liverpool would have terrified Spurs’ supporters around the globe. As manager Mauricio Pochettino takes his squad to Anfield on Sunday it’s very clear that the French midfielder will be Tottenham’s most important player on the pitch.
In fairness to Sissoko, he’s been a huge factor for Spurs all season long. The idea that he must play well if his team is going to defeat a Premier League opponent isn’t brand news. It’s a circumstance that’s existed for Tottenham all season long.
His importance to the squad will be heightened this weekend though. For one thing, Tottenham will, once again, head into this match short of several midfield options. Both Eric Dier and Harry Winks have already been ruled out due to injury by Pochettino. Neither is thought to be out for an extended period of time, but neither will feature against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
That means that Sissoko must play a huge defensive role for his club. Part of what’s made him so effective this year is his work rate all over the pitch. The need for him to track back will be on full display against Liverpool’s electric attack. Sissoko is one of the only players Tottenham have who is capable of running down Liverpool attackers when they’re trying to hit Spurs on the break.
The possibility that Serge Aurier might also miss the match will heap even more defensive responsibilities onto Sissoko. Aurier’s absence means that Kieran Trippier will almost certainly stat the match at right back. He’s a quality option going forward, but his lack of pace will be horribly exposed against Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and company. Pochettino will have to start Sissoko in front of Trippier to help mask those deficiencies.
None of this means that Sissoko will be relieved of his attacking responsibilities. His athleticism also allows him to be the only Tottenham midfielder who really excels at carrying the ball into the final third on his own. Those sorts of piercing runs can give Liverpool’s defence real challenges. Tottenham cannot afford to sit back and hope that Christian Eriksen can ping beautiful passes into the final third. They’ll need Sissoko’s physicality to pierce Klopp’s defence at times.
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In truth, Sissoko is facing a massive challenge against Liverpool. It’s not fair to heap so much responsibility onto one player in a match of this caliber. That doesn’t change his reality on Sunday. Sissoko will need to turn in a massive performance for Spurs to gain a result at Anfield.