Brendan Rodgers' heaped praise on the "sensational" Philippe Coutinho, who was again the matchwinner against Manchester City on Sunday, insisting his potential is "frightening" but added that there is more yet to come from the Brazilian.
After Jordan Henderson's long-range stunner had been cancelled out by Edin Dzeko less than 15 first-half minutes later, both sides struggled to find the difference to seal the win.
But in the 75th minute, Coutinho lit up Anfield as he cut into a yard of space and curled a shot around the flailing arm of Joe Hart at the Kop end.
"To beat Joe Hart, who I rate extremely highly, at 6ft 5 and a top-class goalkeeper, to beat him from that angle with that power was a phenomenal strike," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers after the game.
"In particular since he signed his contract, he has started to score goals. He's a joy to watch. He's a kid that has got so much ahead of him in the game at 22 years of age.
"People forget he came to us at 20, still developing and adapting to a new country. He's a sensational footballer and now he's starting to add the goals to mirror that quality."
It was the second-time in a year that Coutinho swept home a brilliant finish to secure an important three points over the Citizens. Last year it was the Brazilian's services from deep, in a diamond formation, that helped towards secure the win but on Sunday - Coutinho was at his devastating best from a central role.
Playing in behind Raheem Sterling and alongside Adam Lallana in a front three, Coutinho was sublime - carrying the Reds forward with his vivacity, vision and brilliant range of passing.
"I think he is a star in the Premier League already, but there are still improvements he can make," Rodgers added, when asked about how good the 22-year-old can become.
"He is a young player that has developed, he's got the trust of his teammates, he is playing at a football club that adores him and he loves it here, hence him signing a new deal.
"He is playing for a team that wants to play a technical game and you add all of that to his humility as a kid to want to improve - he's a boy that wants to train every day, wants to do extra work.
"He is an absolute pleasure and a joy to work with. He's a kid we brought in a couple of years ago and he only cost £8.5 million pounds, and it'd be frightening to know what he'd [now] be worth in the market, but there are still improvements to make."
Coutinho netted his fifth goal of the season against City. Only seven days earlier, it was the same Coutinho who wowed supporters with a lethal strike from range that dipped and swerved it's way under Fraser Forster's crossbar as the Reds took a 2-0 win away at Southampton.
A few weeks prior, Coutinho's dipping drive from range gave the Reds a last-gasp victory over Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup. Add that to his impressive efforts against Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal this season. But it is clear to see that in recent weeks, Coutinho is beginning to shine in front of goal, adds Rodgers.
"He is a player that has always assisted and made the final pass in his career, playing it in or working it for someone," the Northern Irishman said.
"He's a very selfless player, a very humble young guy and he would always rather create for others. But we have just encouraged him and he has done more work on the training field as well.
"He has got wonderful body movement around the edge of the box where it doesn't take him many touches to get the ball under control, shift it and shoot.
"You have seen recently that he is starting to work that space really well. His technique is at a really, really high level so he is going to score more goals.
"He is now arriving into the areas and obviously then he is able to pull the trigger and get his shots off. You saw that goal, the one at Bolton which was a great strike and some other strikes.
"He is now starting to get success from it and that obviously encourages him to shoot more."