Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admits Virgil van Dijk was the difference in defeat at Liverpool.
Van Dijk's decisive intervention to deny Moussa Sissoko a goal earned praise from Pochettino.
Pochettino told Sky Sports: "That shows why Liverpool paid more than £70m for Van Dijk.
"The legs are heavy and it is difficult to be clear to think and it is not his [Sissoko's] best quality but I am so happy with his performance and commitment to the team."
Van Dijk was also hailed by his own team-mates, with young full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold labelling him as the world's best.
Alexander-Arnold said: "Virgil [van Dijk] has shown again why he is the best defender in the world.
"You need fortune to win these types of games."