'I'm proud of him' - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp joins the chorus of acclaim for Marcus Rashford

Rashford is piling the pressure on the UK government to change their policy and offer free meals, with Klopp quick to salute the efforts of the young England star.

“I am not sure I can find any better words than much smarter people have said but what Marcus has started there is absolutely incredible, it is so nice," said Klopp.

"With all the rivalry between the clubs, in these moments we are as footballers and as human beings always united.

"It’s just nice to show in a time when obviously a lot of people who are really in charge of something and don’t show any sign of proper leadership, that a boy grown up in difficult circumstances and blessed with sensational talent, obviously, never forgot his roots and where he is coming from, that he has to do it.

"It is a bit of a shame that he has to do it but it is wonderful as well. I hope his mother is really proud of him. I don’t know him but even I am proud of him.

"And he plays for United which makes it really tricky! I’ve heard about Liverpool and Manchester United (rivalry) years and years ago.

"But yes that just shows that football can be really wondrous in moments and it shows that the subject is really really serious and that is why everybody puts the rivalry aside and thinks about the more important things in life.

"But it’s really an absolutely wonderful, wonderful thing. Whatever praise he got – and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want the praise now anymore, it’s nice to do it once – that’s how it is. Now he is in the role and now he is the role model for that and that’s great. And it will not distract him from his football things. But, yeah, absolutely great and happy about it.

“So I am really happy that Liverpool can show this solidarity in these moments. Now he is a role model for that and it is truly great and it won’t distract him from his football things.”