Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has spoken in the past of his admiration for Liverpool's home support.

Thiago is being strongly linked with the new Premier League champions this summer, with Jurgen Klopp refusing to deny the rumour when he spoke after the Reds' 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

"Would you be surprised if I didn't answer?" said Klopp. "He's a good player I like a lot but like many others out there."

Last season, the German giants drew 0-0 in the first leg at Anfield, before Liverpool delivered one of their standout performances of the Klopp era when they won the return leg 3-1 in Germany on their way to the Champions League crown.

Prior to that first game on Merseyside though, Thiago heaped praise on Liverpool and the club's fans.

"We know perfectly, this team. What they are, what they have," he said the day before the first leg. "They play awesome football these past years, and they increase every year.

"They are fighting in the Premier League now with the same points as [Manchester] City.

"In the Champions League they do it, not so great in performances (Liverpool had somewhat scraped through the group stage with three defeats), but they are great.

"Yeah we are looking forward because we expect a great match, not just against a great team but also a great crowd."