Jurgen Klopp has hailed Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah’s ‘outstanding’ work-rate after Liverpool’s win over Southampton.
The pair operated in tandem to score a goal apiece on Sunday which helped the Reds move within two points of second place in the Premier League table.
Between them, they have found the target 49 times in all competitions and a tally of 32 combined league goals is better than 11 other top-flight sides.
But Klopp was particularly enamoured with their efforts off the ball, exemplified by the first goal which came in a ten-second counter attack.
He said: “I really think (Sergio) Aguero and (Harry) Kane and a few others are really good players as well, 100 per cent, [but] our boys are important for us.
“What I love is, of course their skills and attitude, but the work-rate is outstanding. Both get the profit from the style of play, that’s for sure as well.
“We play in the areas where they like to have the ball and stuff like this.
“In this strong league you cannot be third without fantastic players and yes, they are two of them.”
The Liverpool manager also reflected on Virgil van Dijk’s first visit to St Mary’s since sealing a £75 million move at the beginning of last month.
Van Dijk’s every touch was greeted with a chorus of boos by his former club’s fans throughout but Klopp was pleased with the defender’s performance.
“He did really well, he dealt with the situation fantastically,” added Klopp.
“We had a little talk before the game and I asked, ‘What do you think?’ He said, ‘No, I’m fine boss’.
“I don’t want to make him nervous if he isn’t nervous and obviously he wasn’t and that’s good.
“I understand everything in football; the crowd is there to make life difficult for the opponent.
“But I think it was not too difficult for him from this point of view and I’m happy about it.”