Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes only three Reds players would get into Tottenham’s starting XI.

Spurs, another of Murphy’s former clubs, have looked impressive under Mauricio Pochettino this season and are sitting fourth in the Premier League.

Liverpool, meanwhile, may have secured back-to-back wins but they are still five points adrift of their top four rivals and have yet to produce a real consistent run of form under Jurgen Klopp.

And, according to Murphy, Tottenham are way ahead of their fellow Champions League chasers right now.

He told Colin Murray: “I grew up a Liverpool fan, played for them for seven years and only at Tottenham briefly. But I have to say, Tottenham are in a better position and if I was a Tottenham supporter I’d be very, very excited about the coming seasons and this particular season.

“Liverpool, they need a turnaround of players and the reason I say this is somebody asked me how many Liverpool players would get into Tottenham’s first XI.

“Here’s my quick answer to that – two, three maximum. And I can’t think of a year in my lifetime where I think that could have been said. And that’s a big turnaround.”

Going through his combined team, Murphy began by insisting the number one spot would not be a close contest with Hugo Lloris around.

“The keeper’s a no-brainer – even for a Liverpool supporter,” he said.

“I personally would have [Jordan] Henderson instead of [Eric] Dier, only just. I know Dier’s been brilliant.

“The only problem with Henderson is Dier’s a sitting midfielder, Henderson likes to get forward. What you could do is put Henderson and Dele Alli ahead of Dembele and play [Mousa] Dembele in the holding role. I couldn’t leave Dembele or Alli out.

“[Philippe] Coutinho definitely and finally – it wouldn’t bother me not putting him in in terms of [Kyle] Walker’s ability – would be [Nathaniel] Clyne. He probably just edges Walker but both are superb right-backs.”

When asked if England forward Daniel Sturridge would make his team if he was fit, Murphy replied: “He’s not so [Harry] Kane’s in.

“I’m going with the same formation [Tottenham use] – you can tweak the three in midfield how you want to do whether you have one and the two but it’s a 4-3-3.

“You’ve got [Hugo] Lloris, [Jan] Vertonghen-[Toby] Alderweireld – I wouldn’t split that up – I’d have Clyne in and leave Rose in, he’s a bit better than Moreno going forward. You’ve got Henderson, Dembele, Alli in a midfield three, all with fantastic energy and athleticism, all can attack and all can defend. You’ve got Kane up top, playing wide and just tucked in you’ve got Coutinho and [Christian] Eriksen.”

While Spurs are looking strong, Murphy does not think they can win the title, but he expects them to finish in the Champions League qualification places.

“Right now, some Tottenham fans will think they can win it, but I don’t think they can,” he said. “They’re a tiny bit off that and a bit young to go and win it. I think top four is nailed on for Spurs this season.

“I look at that Tottenham team, how well balanced it is, how strong it is, how energetic it is and how fit they are compared to a Liverpool side where I’d say he doesn’t know his best eleven.

“Maximum expectation for Liverpool is top four and a trophy maybe with being in the semi-final of the League Cup.

“I think fifth or sixth is more realistic minimum expectation, only because Jurgen Klopp has not had time to get his own players in. I think he will and next season they’ll be much stronger.”