Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Jordan Henderson deserves to be the Football Writers' Player of the Year.

Henderson fought off the likes of teammates Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk as well as Man City's Kevin De Bruyne and Man Utd's Marcus Rashford to collect the gong, drawing effusive praise from his boss.

"One of the big questions in football is what makes a proper player, or what is more important? Is it talent? Is it attitude?" Klopp said on a video message to the star. "I think the easy answer is without talent you are nothing, without attitude you will stay a talent forever.

"You are the perfect example that a mix makes the difference.

"Who would have thought that the young fella from Sunderland coming to Liverpool with big dreams would be one day the best player of the Premier League.

"Maybe you dreamt of it. I'm not sure you thought it will happen. I know you are confident enough to have big dreams, but now is the moment where everybody saw it.

"Everybody saw what a great player you are, great personality, great character.

"I know the human being behind the player - you would have deserved an award for that as well.

"So many congratulations, well deserved, outstanding achievement."