Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was the subject of praise from manager Brendan Rodgers on Monday.
The Slovakian centre-back struggled for game time at the back end of last term but has emerged as a key figure for Rodgers this campaign, highlighted by a rare brace in the 5-1 demolition of Arsenal on Saturday.
"He looks a class act," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "It's a big credit to him that he's been able to prove me right.
"I brought in a way I wanted to work, on the training field and in games, and for the second half of last season he didn't feature much.
"He had a choice, he could either throw the toys out the pram, or he could sit down with the manager and the coaching staff and see what areas he needed to improve.
"Now, you see a player with great intelligence in his defence, his use of the ball is composed and he has taken on a real leadership role. His performance levels, consistently, have been of a high level.
"He is up there with the top centre halves in this league, and I am delighted for him."
