Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley believes team-mate Eden Hazard is currently ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.

Hazard scored a superb late winner in the Blues’ 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round victory at Liverpool on Wednesday, firing an emphatic shot past Simon Mignolet at the end of a brilliant run into the box.

The Belgium forward has also netted five times in Chelsea’s opening six Premier League games, of which they have won five and drawn the other.

“So that felt good to be on the pitch and to make sure I’m ready if something happens, because not having played so long you never know.

“At the same time, if you go out of the competition – which was a chance for me to play every time – it makes the chances of playing small again and that’s not what you want.”

When asked if he thought it was realistic that he could challenge to be Liverpool’s number one in the future, Mignolet said: “I don’t really think about that in those terms.

“I know, of course, we’ve signed a new goalkeeper (Alisson was recruited over the summer). It doesn’t really change (things) for me.

“The only thing I can do is try to be ready for when the gaffer needs me.”

Prior to the match, Klopp had said Mignolet had been “brilliant” after a move away from the club did not materialise for him in the last transfer window.