Jurgen Klopp believes Rafa Camacho has already made “the most important challenge of his life” after the Liverpool youngster's remarkable introduction to life in the Premier League.

Camacho, who made his senior debut in the FA Cup third round defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, was handed his league bow when thrown on in the fourth minute of injury time in Saturday's dramatic 4-3 win over Crystal Palace.

With the visitors chasing an equaliser, there was still enough time for Camacho to make an important tackle inside the area by taking the ball off the toes of a rampaging Wilfried Zaha.

Klopp responded by raising his arms in celebration with the final whistle blowing seconds later.

And a relieved Reds boss said: “I told him immediately after the game that he'd already made the most important challenge of his life.

“I'm not sure he really got it – he looked at me like 'What is he talking about?' – but it was really massive.

“He's good in defensive challenges. He's an offensive player in his mindset and everything but look at our full-backs and where are they most of the time? You need these offensive skills.

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“On the other side there will be moments when you are alone on the pitch against a world class player and they are looking to nutmeg you or whatever.

“It is the learning process Robbo (Andy Robertson) went through. He was a fantastic left-winger but played full-back and now he is a full-back. That's really cool.

“I was really happy in that moment but I have seen similar situations from him (Camacho) before.”

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

Liverpool were not at their best against Palace but a Mohamed Salah brace and goals from Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane mean they remain four points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of champions Manchester City after 23 games.

Klopp, though, was happy with the manner in which his team got the job done.

“I don't know how many ways there are to win a football game but we had pretty much a few of them already,” he said. “Maybe there'll be a game when we score early, then a second goal and the opponent loses confidence and we can win 5-0 after 70 minutes.

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“That doesn't happen too often but it's possible. Then you have other games where you have to create and this game, for different reasons, was really difficult.

“We only want to win games and I know we are a really good football team but that is not enough.

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“It is really not enough to be a good or a fantastic or even a world class football team because we are playing in a competition with a couple of world class football teams and hundreds of fantastic football teams.

“We have to make sure that we just fight in each game like it's the last game and the boys do that. I'm completely fine with 4-3.”