Jurgen Klopp: 'Roberto Firmino the closest striker to Harry Kane'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that Roberto Firmino is the "most similar" forward to Harry Kane in the Premier League.

Brazilian international Firmino was considered an attacking midfielder at previous club Hoffenheim, but Klopp has deployed the 26-year-old as a striker to good effect since his arrival.

Firmino has netted 19 goals in all competitions this term, including 11 in the league, and Klopp has said that the Reds striker shares some of the same traits as Tottenham marksman Kane.

"Harry is more coming from the nine and a little bit on the 10 while Roberto is coming from the 10 and doing a bit more but is also a 9, he's just so important for us," the German told the Daily Mail. "You realise it the day after the game when you look at the figures and see 'wow, what a number of high sprints and high distance runs'.

"When you look at him in training the next day it's all good, he walks normal. On the second day of recovery he looks fresh again. That makes him so special, he's always ready. That makes him an interesting package as a football player because he's not fixed on a position."

Liverpool and Spurs meet in the Premier League on Sunday, with just two points separating the two sides.