Ajax star says a Liverpool player is his ' role mode'

Liverpool travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the second leg of their group ties next week

Mohammed celebrates after scoring a stunner against Liverpool in the Champions League

Ajax striker Mohamed Kudus has expressed his admiration for Thiago Alcantara and insists his game is based on the Liverpool midfielder.

The 22-year-old has been linked with the likes of a summer move to Everton and has since surged in value after a stellar start to the season, scoring nine goals in all competitions.

One of Kudus's finest performances of the season came at Anfield after the Ghanaian scored in his side's Champions League group defeat to Liverpool with a powerful shot past Alisson top of the net, which Jurgen Klopp himself described as 'excellent'.

Kudus explained to Ajax TV why he likes Thiago Alcantara: "I loved his game as a child. I like creativity and having fun playing. When I played in Denmark, a friend of mine arranged for a shirt from him. It was fantastic. The shirt is hanging at my home and I am very proud of it.

"Sometimes he plays as a 'six' but then, despite his defensive duties, he doesn't lose his creativity. No matter where he plays, he always finds the balance between defending and attacking. That's how I want to play," added Kudus on the Reds' No.6.

"As a kid, I was always given the ball to make moves. Even if I lost it ten times, I kept trying. No matter where I am, I still play with that same creativity and joy. It has shaped me into the player I am today. I want to score more and finish better."