Danny Ings has revealed Liverpool's tactical blueprint has enabled him to thrive at Southampton.
Ings suffered two serious and long-term knee injuries during his time at Anfield but rebuilt his career on the south coast after a successful loan spell ended with a £20million move last summer.
Ings was one of the standout strikers in the Premier League last season, netting 22 times to finish one behind Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy.
The former Burnley forward has spoken of how Jurgen Klopp's demands of his strikers helped him prepare for life with the Saints, with Ings flourishing when the emphasis is on pressing from the front.
“I’ve always been a player who has enjoyed winning the ball back for the team and the way that our manager sets us up really helps me regain possession in the final third,” Ings told The Times.
“The way we play is so intense, it suits my game.
“Unfortunately it didn’t work out at Liverpool but it was the same process up there.
"You see how many times [Roberto] Firmino is winning the ball back and Redders [Nathan Redmond] as well.
"It’s a huge part of my game. The way the game has gone, it is faster and faster every year and a lot of it is tactical.
"For No.9s now, there is a lot of work involved in that but it suits my game perfectly.”
Well-liked on Merseyside, Ings left Liverpool, initially on loan, after three years with the Reds and he admitted it was difficult to leave behind the friends he had amassed during his time with the club.
Ings, who was speaking on England duty, added: “It was all about going somewhere where I could really enjoy my football again.
"I felt Southampton was the perfect place for me and it has worked out very, very well.
“I’m close to my family and friends — I lived away from them for about eight years. Leaving Liverpool was very hard because I’ve got a lot of friends there.
"But I’ve moved to a great football club and I am enjoying my football.”
He added: “I’ve kept in contact with Tripps (Kieran Trippier) from when we played together at Burnley and he texted me straight away [after the England call-up] to say, ‘It is great to have you with us — I can’t wait to see you’.
"Some of my old team-mates at Liverpool texted me. To get the call means a lot to me.
"A lot of joy, that’s what I felt. For every player, to represent your country is the goal, it’s the pinnacle of football.”
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