OPINION
Kevin Phillips shared the line-up he would field for Tottenham’s clash with Liverpool if he was Mauricio Pochettino and the Spurs boss should heed his advice.
The former Sunderland forward shared he would field the same side that overcame Ajax and that would mean leaving a potentially fit-again Harry Kane on the bench.
“For me personally if I was in his position, I’d probably go with the team that got them there,” said Phillips on Sky Sports’ The Debate (22:12, Friday May 10th).
“I’d leave Kane on the bench and the first opportunity I got, I’d get him on the pitch, but who you going to drop? It’s as simple as that.”
However Phillips was adamant that he would utilise Kane if he was available as he shared he’d bring him on the pitch at the first opportunity.
Given that the Tottenham 25-year-old is a guaranteed source of goals, Phillips is spot on to suggest that he should be kept on a leash and used like a trump card in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Kane, who has scored 24 goals in 39 outings this season, could work wonders and against a tired Reds defence and using him sparingly could be the key.
After missing several games the Spurs captain won’t be 100% and firing on all cylinders so playing against a fresh Liverpool defence from the start may prove too much.
Yet it’s easy to imagine Kane causing the Reds problems, in particular Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren if one of them get the nod, as he has the skill set to out manoeuvre them.
Also with the feel-good victory over Ajax still pumping in Spurs’ veins, and likely still in their minds when they face Liverpool, Spurs squad shouldn’t be changed as it could disrupt that confident feeling.
So while Pochettino clearly knows more than Phillips about his Spurs team, on this occasion the Spurs boss should heed the Sky Sports pundit advice as he is spot-on with his verdict.