Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Emre Can has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks.
The 23-year-old scored a sensational winner during Monday night's 1-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, laying a claim for the goal of the season with a memorable overhead kick.
However, with the likes of Jordan Henderson sidelined and Adam Lallana only recently having returned to training, Klopp admitted that Can was playing despite carrying an injury.
"He is a good boy, a good player and he deserves it," he told reporters.
"We thought we needed him and he tried as good as possible. These problems are sorted and he can build on his performances."
The goal was Can's fifth of the season and was enough to take Liverpool four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United.
No Data Analysis info
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
Spain
Italy
Croatia
Albania
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Austria
France
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Belgium
Slovakia
Ukraine
Portugal
Turkey
Georgia
Czech Republic