Brad Smith is delighted with the progress he has made this season under Jürgen Klopp and says his priority now is improving the defensive side of his game in order to establish himself in the first team.

The left-back has made seven appearances in all competitions for the Reds this term, enjoying his most productive campaign since making an initial breakthrough to the senior squad back in the 2012-13 season.

And in just his second start for the club - in an FA Cup fixture away at Exeter City - the Australian got on the scoresheet for the first time as he bagged a crucial equalising goal.

Unsurprisingly, Smith credits Klopp for giving him the chance to notch up such achievements, and insists he is focused on repaying that faith by making the necessary tweaks to his game in training.

"He’s a great manager, he’s a bit crazy," he told Outside90.com.

"He’s really hands on with all the players and individually goes and talks to me about what he thinks I need to work on and it’s to work on my defensive play, because he likes me going forward, so he’s got me to work on that really.

"It was a crazy season coming back to Liverpool, the manager took a liking in me and gave me a few chances, it’s going well but it’s a big club and naturally I’m not in the squad every week.

"He sat me down and told me that’s going to happen because of the big players there. Every chance I get, I’m enjoying it."