Football news - 'Players prefer loving managers like Jurgen Klopp' - Emile Heskey

The former Liverpool forward was full of praise for the current Reds boss and believes that he is the ideal manager for modern-day players.

While other managers such as Jose Mourinho have been falling out with players, Klopp has somehow maintained a healthy relationship with his stars.

Heskey believes that attitude has been crucial for the German and him putting his arm around players has helped him to be received positively.

"The ability to extract as much as out of a player as possible [has been Klopp's biggest impact]," Heskey told Eurosport.

"Look at James Milner now he’s been fantastic and I think Klopp has been a big part of that.

"It’s the same for Jordon Henderson too, who a few years ago would be going out the door, but they seem to have a new lease of life."

Heskey believes Klopp's men have a realistic shot at the Premier League title and that Virgil van Dijk has been the difference since he arrived at Anfield.

"I think they’ve got a real good chance of winning the league. But my concern would be if Van Dijk was to be injured for a prolonged time, I’m not sure they have another commanding figure to step in.

"Going forward they are immense but that has never been their problem, they could score four goals, but then likely to concede four too.

"Defensively has been the main difference. They haven’t had the sturdiness in the past and they’ve really struggled with that. They haven’t really had that commanding figure since Jamie Carragher left. But in Van Dijk they now have that, they seem to be getting there and he’s such a man mountain he makes such a big difference in that back four."