Liverpool manager lauds powerhouse Austrian winger

Jurgen Klopp has singled out Stoke City’s 26-year-old for individual praise ahead of tonight’s League Cup semi-final.

Our German boss knows Marko Arnautovic very well from his time in the Bundesliga, and was keen on congratulating the Potters attacker for his improvement.

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This term, he’s scored seven Premier League goals in 17 appearances and registered three assists – establishing himself as one of the most exciting wingers of the 2015/16 campaign. His thunderbolt against Manchester United was a particular highlight.

“Arnautovic was a young player in Germany who had some problems but he has a big talent. He’s scoring goals, making runs behind lines,” Klopp said.

The Austrian moved to Stoke for just £2m in 2013 from Werder Bremen, but has previously only ever been a rotation option before really coming of age this term.

As a result of his form, he’s even been linked with a January move to European behemoths PSG in the Daily Mirror, which goes some way in explaining his development.

Arnautovic might just be on a hot streak of form, but on the surface, he looks exactly the kind of player we need right now. He’s quick and powerful, scores goals – but is a real worker too – aided by his height and strength.

In this aspect he’s a far cry from our diminutive playmakers who’ve rarely troubled the scorers this term.