Spurs' form vindicates Gylfi Sigurdsson's tough call

Gylfi Sigurdsson will go to Anfield on Sunday with no regrets about his decision to sign for Tottenham Hotspur instead of Liverpool last summer.

Sigurdsson was close to joining Liverpool, managed by Brendan Rodgers, his old coach from Reading and Swansea City. But with Spurs third in the Premier League – 12 points ahead of Liverpool – and still in the Europa League, the Icelandic midfielder feels vindicated.

"Tottenham finished fourth last season and were unlucky not to be in the Champions League," Sigurdsson explained. "The way it stands, we are third now in the league and pushing to get into the Champions League again. It was clear this was the club I wanted to be at."

Sigurdsson is increasingly involved in the Spurs first team after a slow start, scoring goals recently against West Ham United and Internazionale. "Nights like Thursday show I made the right choice," he said. "Beating Inter at home 3-0 in the Europa League is an amazing achievement.

"If you look at the game against Arsenal and the game on Thursday night, the aim is to play in these sorts of games. And winning both of them is where you want to be."

Spurs' league form has taken them to a strong position in terms of Champions League qualification, with Liverpool far behind, and Sigurdsson is excited by the prospect of playing in Europe's elite competition. "You ask any player and that is where he wants to be. It is a great competition with great teams."

Sigurdsson admitted it was not easy breaking the news to Rodgers that he was going to Spurs, however. "It was a hard phone call to make," he said. "He is a great coach. I owe him a lot for giving me a chance at Reading and then giving me my first chance in the Premier League with Swansea."