Jürgen Klopp has called Sadio Mané ‘exceptional’ and Mohamed Salah ‘unplayable’ after Liverpool’s 5-0 Premier League thrashing of Watford.
Mané, who scored an early brace, was on fire for the Reds and Klopp hailed the Senegal international for moving into a different position due to the absence of injured Roberto Firmino.
The German was also thrilled with central defender Virgil van Dijk’s double in the win that saw Liverpool remain one point ahead at the top of the table after 28 matches played.
The Liverpool manager admitted he missed Mané’s audacious second goal as a player moved into his eye-line.
“It was a back-heel, I heard, but I didn’t see it,” he said.
“I loved the first one as well, jumping that high. How he played in that new position was exceptional.
“You need in that position someone who can play in small spaces, who can give you runs in behind, who adapts to defensive situation. We have other players who can play that but not with the speed of Sadio.”
Klopp said Liverpool delivered “a good example of how football should look” as they dismantled Watford with their biggest victory of the season to send a title warning to Manchester City.
Liverpool maintained their advantage over the reigning champions courtesy of an emphatic performance at Anfield, where Sadio Mané and Virgil van Dijk both scored twice and Divock Origi was also on the scoresheet.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, omitted from Sunday’s goalless draw with Manchester United for fitness reasons, returned to the starting lineup with a hat-trick of assists. City remain a point behind having beaten West Ham 1-0 through a controversial Sergio Agüero penalty.