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Jurgen Klopp hailed Jordan Henderson for a “dominant” display against Leicester.

The Liverpool captain played alongside Emre Can as a midfield two for the first time under the German and the Reds manager was happy with what he saw – for all that both had to be reminded of their responsibilities from the touchline.

Speaking about Henderson’s display as he continues his comeback from three months out, Klopp said: “He was strong, he’s getting his rhythm, it's very important he can stay in this rhythm after his third game back.

“He was good at Watford too, it was not easy to look good in Watford but he was.

“Now next step against Leicester, he was really dominant and the first time since I’ve been here that we played in a 4-4-2 Hendo and Emre together, parts of both with offensive ideas.

“If you have these two players, a six or the eight, one of them has to protect our offensive zone. Sometimes we had to have a little conversation, they needed help from outside to say ‘please now, the other one is in the box so wait’.

“But it was really good and I hope he stays fit and he will help us of course, he’s high quality player.”

Lovren is getting better and better

Many fans felt that Dejan Lovren had one of his best games in a red shirt as Liverpool kept a clean sheet against the freescoring Foxes and Klopp believes the Croatian is getting better and better despite the German hearing bad reports before he arrived at Anfield.

“I only heard about it, that supporters or whoever were not too happy with the performance of Dejan when he came here. But I can’t say anything about this since I’ve here.

“He gets better and better that’s the truth and he can show how strong he is. I’m not surprised about this, because I knew about his qualities. I was a little bit surprised about what everybody told me about him.

“I’m happy for him and it’s very important that he stays fit and trains, and that we defend as a team like we did, so it’s easier for the centre halves.

“If you give them open gaps in the midfield, it’s nearly not possible to look good as a centre half and how we did against Leicester and in some other games makes the job easier for them.

“Now I think Mama (Sakho) too is a step ahead after the injury, now (he's had) two games. Of course Leicester was better than Watford and so he’s getting back in shape, it’s always important to get something like a rhythm.”

The difference in the Boxing Day clash was Christian Benteke, who replaced injured Divock Origi off the bench and slid home Liverpool’s winner in the 63rd minute.

It followed a week when Klopp had a one to one with his big striker but the Liverpool manager was keen not to put too much pressure on his player.

Benteke must get more invovled and we must use his natural skills

Asked if Benteke now had a big opportunity to show his worth, Klopp said: “I don’t think we should always create a scenario like this with pressure on the player, and say ‘come on now you have an opportunity you have to show...’

“We spoke about a few things as he said and as I told you. It’s lways important to clear the situation, whatever...

“He knows what he has to do, that’s for sure and of course it was not too easy to come on. He had a longer warm up on the pitch for the first 10 or 15 minutes and then second half was better.

“He is a player with such potential so it’s always if he doesn’t play perfect, you always think ‘there’s a little bit and there’s a little bit.’

“Of course he’s not the same striker as Daniel (Sturridge) because of the movement, as Divock (Origi) because of the movement.

“All these strikers are different. We have to use his natural skills and he has to try to be more involved in the game. That’s all, then we can make steps together.

“It’s not possible for a player to come in and play your own style when the team plays different for example.

“At the end a striker has to make goals, I know this, everybody knows this. There’s more time in the game when we need him defending set players, big quality, for offensive set plays, big qualities, all these things. We are clear.”

Klopp said one big part of the development of his team was in making sure goals do not come solely from the strikers, with contributions instead coming from all areas.

“To be more dangerous from other positions is a big target for us” he added.