Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Marcus Rashford for showing the kind of leadership the Government is failing to provide with his campaign for free school meals.

Klopp joked it was “tricky” to speak so highly of the 22-year-old England striker because he plays for arch-rivals Manchester United.

Rashford has been waging a high-profile campaign to ensure the poorest children in the country do not go hungry outside of term time, being awarded an MBE earlier this month for his work.

Earlier this week the Government voted against a Labour motion to extend the scheme, leaving Rashford to pledge to continue the fight backed by many celebrities and politicians.

“And he plays for United which makes it really tricky! I’ve heard about Liverpool and Manchester United (rivalry) years and years ago.

“But yes that just shows that football can be really wondrous in moments and it shows that the subject is really really serious and that is why everybody puts the rivalry aside and thinks about the more important things in life.

“So I am really happy that Liverpool can show this solidarity in these moments.

“Now he is a role model for that and it is truly great and it won’t distract him from his football things.”