Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer Ian Rush has hailed the club's current crop of players as "the best [he has] ever seen".

Jurgen Klopp's side are on the brink of a first top-flight title in 30 years as they boast a 25-point lead over their nearest challengers, while last year saw them crowned the European and world champions.

Such success is still only a slither of what the club achieved in their 1970s and 1980s heyday, with Rush himself part of five title-winning and two European Cup-winning teams during a trophy-laden Anfield career.

However, the Welshman believes that the class of 2019-20 is the best the club has ever produced, although he does not think that they should be awarded the title if the campaign is cut short due to the coronavirus crisis.

"I've never played a game behind closed doors so I don't know what it's like. But I don't think it would bring the best out of me. I wasn't the best trainer and sometimes I would just go through the motions. But in front of 40,000 or 50,000 fans I would come alive," Rush told The Mirror.

"If you're playing in front of no one it begs the question, would you be any good? Would you be up for it, first of all? Would it be the same as a normal game in front of a big crowd? I don't think so. It will be like playing a Sunday league game. I don't think the standard of games will be very good. It will be hard to get ­motivated even if something is at stake. Crowds bring excitement.

"If Liverpool are at home and they can win the league I want to be there even if we all have to be two metres apart. But seriously, if it doesn't happen and the Premier League is declared null and void then you have to move on and not let it affect you. This Liverpool team is the best I've ever seen and I'm certain they will come again.

"There's no way Liverpool can be awarded the title without the season being finished. Although it's understandable it will still be a shame to see games without the fans who are the lifeblood of the game. I wouldn't be looking forward to the prospect of the matches being staged behind closed doors. Celebrating goals will be strange for a start without there being any crowd ­interaction."

Rush scored an unparalleled 346 goals in 660 appearances for Liverpool.