Jürgen Klopp took time out of his pre-match press conference to hail Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a rare, world class player, ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Klopp managed Mkhitaryan while he played at Borussia Dortmund, with the Armenia international helping the German’s side reach the DFB-Pokal final in 2013/14 as well as finish runner-up to the all-conquering Bayern Munich side that year, and was responsible for bringing him to the Bundesliga side as their £23.4m club-record acquisition.

Klopp will face Mkhitaryan for the first time since the 27-year-old moved to United in the summer, and after struggling to adjust to the Premier League, Mkhitaryan has flourished as one of their key figures since Jose Mourinho reintroduced him into the side.

Their relationship remains a positive one, even if they are on the opposite sides of a bitter rivalry that resumes this weekend when Klopp’s side make the short trip to Manchester, and he was keen to praise Mkhitaryan’s talents that set him out from the rest.

“He combines technical ability and tempo. It is rare,” Klopp said of Mkhitaryan. “He is a good finisher with a great attitude. He is a world class player.”

Mkhitaryan will get his first taste of the United-Liverpool rivalry, having missed the first encounter earlier this season that petered out into a 0-0 draw. Klopp does not expect the same to happen this time around though, and believes he doesn’t have to draw on the past to motivate his side as they are already fully aware.

“I don’t have to let the players know. They are responsible,” Klopp added. “The players know more about it than me. It is not about making it bigger.

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