Jurgen Klopp has described Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland as the "best striker in the world" - a claim Mohamed Salah which might not be too happy with.
The Liverpool boss hailed Haaland ahead of the Reds' mouthwatering clash with City this Sunday, as his side will attempt to stop the Norwegian striker from netting his 21st goal of the season in just his 14th game.
Despite Salah scoring a spectacular six-minute hat-trick against Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday as a striker, Klopp reckons that City manager Pep Guardiola boasts the superior player when it comes to operating down the middle.
"When you play against currently the best striker in the world you have to make sure he doesn't get the ball," the Liverpool manager explained in his pre-match news conference. "The problem versus City is if you close him down with too many players it opens space for other world class players."
Klopp also recalled the night that Haaland announced himself to English football with a goal against Liverpool just four minutes after being brought on as a substitute. Then 19, the striker was starring for Red Bull Salzburg and made his mark during a thrilling 4-3 win for the Reds in the Champions League group stage at Anfield.
"Even when he was very young, younger than now, you could see the potential," Klopp went on to say. "I remember the home game we were already pretty busy with thinking about him, 'how can you close him down' - he scored anyway.
"Physically, he sets new standards. So the combination of being really physical and technical, and (having) sensational awareness, his orientation on the pitch is exceptional, he always knows where the gaps are, barely offside - reads that really well - so many things what make him a striker.
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"And now in City with some of the best players around him in the world in setting up goals and finding the right moment for the passes. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, [Riyad] Mahrez, whoever - they are all really good at that, so that's a perfect fit, no doubt about that."
As for Salah, Klopp has full confidence that the Reds ace - who's usually a winger - can continue producing in a central role after doing so in Glasgow alongside strike partner Diogo Jota.
"He can play that position, no doubt about that, but he can play wide position as well," the Anfield gaffer noted, although he wasn't willing to nail Salah down to his new role.
"Flexibility is what we need in all offensive moments, but it's not so different. Whichever system we play, for finishing you need to be in and around the box. That's how it is.
"He was there, definitely. I don't think it had too much to do with the position, there were situations where we had possession and Mo went to the right side, his right wing. It's completely normal."
