Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan has claimed that Stoke City forward Peter Crouch has represented his biggest challenge since moving to Anfield.

After making the £4.2m move from Augsburg, Klavan went on to make 20 appearances in the Premier League last season as Liverpool claimed fourth place in the standings.

Despite playing against the majority of teams in the top flight, the Estonian centre-back has said that veteran forward Crouch has provided him with the most trouble so far.

The 31-year-old is quoted by the Liverpool Echo as saying: "I'd say Peter Crouch. That was the biggest surprise. Really! He was good.

"He was fast enough, he was strong enough and he was technical enough. I had never played against him before. When I came up against him (when Liverpool beat Stoke 4-1 at Anfield) it was a positive surprise."

Crouch - who turned 36 in January - contributed seven goals and two assists from 27 league outings last season.