Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool are reaping the rewards of Sadio Mane finally realising just how good he is.

The Senegal international has got off to a flyer this season with three goals in back-to-back wins over West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Mane enjoyed a rollercoaster 2017/18 campaign with his progress hampered by a red card against Manchester City and a glaring miss against Everton which dented his confidence.

However, the Liverpool winger finished last term in style as he bagged 20 goals in all competitions and Klopp says his belief is sky high ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield.

“Sadio did start pretty well last year. He was in fantastic shape then came the City game and an unlucky situation. That was not good,” Klopp said.

“I think he had an injury then as well, a little one. Now he's much more secure that this is his level.

“The players surprise themselves sometimes. 'Wow, really? That's how good I am?' We all need to show our best and get used to it.

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“Sadio is a very consistent player for us. His work rate is great. We have a very strange 4-5-1 formation with Sadio as a midfielder, Bobby (Firmino) being a midfielder more or less and Mo (Salah) being a striker, even though he plays in a little different position.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“We talk about the defensive work rate they put in and that's really important.

“Pre-season was not the longest (for Mane), three weeks after three weeks of holiday. I think the first game he and Mo played was (Manchester) City, right? That was after three or four days training.

“It's quality. We have to make sure we can show that every week. Who scores the goals is not too important but it was very important for us and very nice for Sadio that he could do it.”

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Firmino and Salah have both committed their futures to the club by signing new long-term contracts and the hope is that Mane will do the same.

The Reds enjoy a good relationship with Mane's agent Bjorn Bezemer, who also represents Naby Keita.

(Image: (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images))

Preliminary discussions took place towards the end of last season when Liverpool made it clear they were prepared to recognise his development with a deal which would put him among the club's highest earners.

Mane has still got three years to run on the contract he signed on his arrival from Southampton in 2016 and Klopp is relaxed about the situation.

"It's not that his contract ends tomorrow," the manager added. "They are all in a good age group. That's all positive, right?"