David Moyes has responded to Jurgen Klopp 's claim that West Ham sensation Jarrod Bowen is an "unbelievable player" by complimenting Liverpool 's own stars.
The two teams meet at Anfield on Saturday and in his pre-match press conference, Klopp waxed lyrical about the 25-year-old, linked with a move to Merseyside in the summer transfer window.
"We saw him as well at Hull and he was really good that time," the Liverpool manager stated. "I don't think a lot of people expected this jump. Unbelievable player."
And after hearing Klopp's comments on his in-demand forward, Moyes was quick to return the compliment.
"I see Bowen as having made unbelievable progress," the West Ham boss explained. "Always you want to see how players make progress and Jarrod has stepped up. And I don't mean just from Hull to West Ham.
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"If we are saying Bowen is unbelievable then I am struggling for words for the players at Liverpool. We have huge admiration for them."
Bowen has been valued as highly as £75million, billed to replace Mohamed Salah should the Anfield No.11 reject a new contract.
But, for the here and now, their Premier League clash is a crucial one in both in the race to win the title and qualify for the Champions League.
Liverpool can go within three points of table toppers Manchester City by winning before their derby clash with bitter rivals United on Sunday, while West Ham are hoping for a top-four finish.
But the hosts are expected to be without three first-teamers for the teatime kick-off, with Klopp admitting: "[We are] pretty sure Thiago [Alcantara] is not available.
"Curtis [Jones] is not bad but good enough for tomorrow? "We'll see. [Joel] Matip is ill, not Covid."
Moyes, one the other hand, hopes to have three returnees and told reporters: "Like everybody we have a few injuries and some coming back.
"Ryan Fredericks is a bit better and so is Arthur [Masuaku]. We have a concern about [Tomas] Soucek because of the stitches," the Scot added, after his midfielder suffered a cut to the face during Wednesday's FA Cup defeat to Souhampton.
One player who is certainly unavailable is forward Andriy Yarmalenko, with Moyes allowing the 32-year-old time off to be with his family following Russia 's invasion of his native Ukraine.
Moyes has failed to win a single game at Anfield in 17 attempts with four different teams.
But flying high at West Ham, who won the reverse fixture 3-2 at the London Stadium, the ex- Manchester United manager is hoping for a change of fortune.
"We have a Premier League full of the top teams in Europe. It's so difficult but also so good that we've got that level of game," he noted.
"Going to Anfield is very difficult and has been for me over the years, but hopefully it gets better this time."
