Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has equated his feelings on Harry Kane with that of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Mohamed Salah.
Kane has long been regarded as one of the best centre-forwards in world football and in the summer it was no shock to see Premier League champions Manchester City make a big push for the England captain.
However, despite the intentions of City and the player himself, a transfer didn't come to fruition.
While Kane has scored goals in the Europa Conference League for Tottenham and on the international stage with England, in the Premier League he's found the going uncharacteristically tough.
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The 28-year-old has notched just one goal and one assist in 13 top-flight appearances. That figure is in stark contrast to the 23 goals and 14 assists he registered in the Premier League last season.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's game, Conte said he still had belief in Kane and made reference to Salah 's importance to Klopp as a comparison, per Sky Sports.
"Harry is a world-class striker," said the Italian. "Every day that I train him I understand very well that he's a world-class striker.
"He's one of the best I've had the pleasure to train. He's amazing. I like to have him in my team. For sure Jurgen [Klopp] likes to have Mo Salah. But I like to have Harry in my team.
"He's an important player for us and my expectation was very high and to play an important game against Liverpool."
Salah has enjoyed an extraordinary start to the current season for Liverpool and is on course to top the goals and assists Kane registered last term, with 15 goals and nine assists from just 17 Premier League games.
While five top-flight matches have been called off this weekend due to Covid-19 outbreaks, all three Premier League title challengers are in action on Sunday.
Before Liverpool visit Tottenham later in the day, leaders Manchester City visit Newcastle United and third place Chelsea are on the road at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
