Former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted he has been very surprised by how far the Reds have come over the last decade.

The Argentine left Anfield for Barcelona in 2010, in what was the lowest point for the Reds in the modern era, but the Merseyside club has returned to the top of European football under manager Jurgen Klopp.

Mascherano has praised the work of the German, and thinks his ever-evolving footballing philosophy is key to Liverpool’s recent success:

“The team that continues to surprise me with the evolution it has had is Liverpool. It is clear that Klopp has put it together in his image and likeness. I am ten years behind, I see how we played with that Liverpool and nothing to do with what I see today.”

“I have been following Klopp since he coached Dortmund, which was a pressing team similar to what Liverpool does today but now he has added a positional play share, before it was much more direct.”

“That evolution is what I like because, in the end, it ends up being a more complete team.”

It must be said that Mascherano forced his way out in order to secure his switch to Barcelona ten years ago, although many now will hardly blame him considering the mess the club was in.

However, as the Argentine mentions, it is a very different team these days, and a lot of that is down to Klopp’s extraordinary management and the quality of players the club have brought in over the past few seasons.