Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen has heaped heavy praiseon fellow club and national team compatriot Mousa Dembele ahead of their top six clash this weekend as they travel to Anfield.
Dembele moved to White Hart Lane from Fulham in the 2012summer transfer window and in the past two seasons especially, he has become a pivotal figure for the London club and could be key in Tottenham's bid to challenge once again for the Premier League crown.
Dribble success rates this season:
Cristiano Ronaldo: 46.7%
Lionel Messi: 58.5%
Neymar: 63.9%
Mousa Dembélé: 81.9% pic.twitter.com/8vLaqmDbeE
Speaking to Tottenham's official website, via The Evening Standard, Vertonghen states that: I don't think people know how good Mousa is. You can ask every single player in the team and I don't think you can describe how good Mousa is.�
Vertonghen has also played alongside Dembele on the international stage for the Belgian national team and they were both involved in the squad that reached the semi-finals of last year's European Championships in France.
You can only know if you play with him or against him, see him train for a couple of weeks, then you'll find out.�
Tottenham certainly found out the importance of the Belgian midfielder's presence as he missed their final two league games at the end of last season due to suspension. Spurs lost both matches against Southampton and Newcastle and had to endure the agony of once again finishing behind north London rivals Arsenal.
Dembele was back in the Spurs starting lineup against Sunderland in mid-September this season and his return saw Tottenham go on an eight match unbeaten run in the league, further demonstrating his influence on the team in that midfield role.
He's a special player and I can't think of anyone else who is a bit like him. For me, he's up there with the best two or three midfielders in the league,� Vertonghen added. I certainly prefer to play with him that against him.�
Tottenham will definitely need Dembele to produce a fine performance against Liverpool
if they want to get a much needed victoryat Anfield on Saturday afternoon, something they haven't achieved since the 2010/11 season.