Former Liverpool player Phill Babb has heaped praise on Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko, who he claims has been transformed into a “top player” for Mauricio Pochettino this season.
Babb was talking on the latest episode of the Debate show on Sky Sports when he compared Sissoko to Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, who he said had been the “laughing stock” of the team.
“One of the players that doesn’t get mentioned enough at Arsenal is Granit Xhaka in midfield, who has been an absolute revelation,” Babb said.
“He was almost the laughing stock. The only player who has had the same transformation this season has been Sissoko at Spurs.
“He’s had the same sort of transformation. Now he’s one of the first names on the team sheet. He’s been a top player for them.”
OPINION
Sissoko has been an absolute revelation – we’d say his change this season has been much more dramatic than than of Xhaka at Arsenal. Sissoko was the laughing stock of the Tottenham team last season, with fans questioning why Pochettino had spent so much on the player. He cost £31.5million from Newcastle and it seemed that Rafa Benitez was laughing all the way to the bank, while Tottenham fans ripped into the midfielder week after week after a string on inept performances. Sissoko was impressive at the World Cup with France in the summer and since then he’s been a man possessed for Spurs. He’s been brilliant and Tottenham fans have been blown away by the player who’s been an absolute rock for Spurs. Tottenham might be out of the race for the Premier League, but they’re still in with a shot at the biggest trophy of the season, the Champions League. Pochettino will need Sissoko to be at his absolute best if they want to lift Europe’s biggest prize and what an end to an incredible season that would be for the 29-year-old.