Ralf Rangnick credits Jurgen Klopp for improving Jordan Henderson and James Milner

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been handed credit for improving midfield duo Jordan Henderson and James Milner by former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Rangnick.

As per German outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine, the 61-year-old laid all the credit at Klopp’s door for the way that the £20 million (BBC) midfielder and the former Manchester City freebie (Guardian) have improved under his leadership.

He said: “If you look at Jordan Henderson or James Milner before Klopp they were totally average. The fact that they have now become such players is entirely up to their manager. Sadio Mané, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino were, until three or four years ago, everything other than typical pressing strikers.

“They just wanted to have the ball and play with it. The fact that they have grown together at Liverpool is all down to Jürgen Klopp.”

TBR’s View – Klopp is a major factor but Henderson and Milner are as professional as they come

Obviously Klopp’s tactics have helped take the duo’s game to the next level but that development still relies on the players being receptive and determined to learn.

In Milner and Henderson, Klopp could hardly have hoped to have found two fitter, more professional and more driven players on which to impart his ideas.

Klopp deserves plenty of credit, but so do Henderson and Milner, for elevating themselves above the level many might have expected from them at the start of their respective Anfield careers. It’s not all on Klopp.