Tottenham vs Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino has labelled midfielder Adam Lallana 'one of the best in England'

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has labelled Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana as 'one of the best in England' and has urged him to prove himself under new boss Jurgen Klopp. The Englishman was signed by former manager Brendan Rodgers from Southampton, where he played under the Spurs boss, but has yet to fulfill his potential at Anfield.

Lallana has struggled with injuries and form during his debut season with the club and failed to meet expectations and live up to his £25m ($38.5m) price-tag. He is yet to recreate the form that he displayed for the Saints under the Argentine manager, but his former boss has urged him to prove himself under the former Borrussia Dortmund boss, who has taken over the reins at Merseyside and will play his first game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday (17 October)

The Tottenham manager has revealed that he still keeps in touch with his former players, and will see three of them at close quarters when his team take on the Reds. Apart from Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne could be involved in the game, which is crucial for both clubs in the race for a place in the top four of the Premier League. Pochettino believes Lallana will prove his critics wrong and become one of the top players for club and country.

"We keep in touch but we just ask how their families are, how they feel, and so on. But you know, Liverpool is different to Southampton, a different environment and club. You always need to settle in a new club to perform well," Pochettino said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"Lovren, Lambert, Lallana and now (Nathaniel) Clyne, it was a very difficult period for them when they arrived, with Brendan not in a good position and now he has left the club. That's never easy."

"They are still great players. You always need time to settle into a new style, new club, and new city. It's not easy. Lallana is a great, unbelievable player, one of the best in England. Lallana can adapt his skill to different styles. For me he is one of the best players in England," the Argentine manager added.