Senegal sensation El Hadji Diouf has been labelled the 'extra special ingredient' that could make Liverpool champions.
And the £10million new boy - who grabbed two goals on his Anfield league debut on Saturday - insists he can blast 15 plus this term.
Southampton's Norwegian defender Claus Lundekvam was part of a mean Saints defence last season that helped take four points from Liverpool and restricted them to just one goal.
Now Lundekvam, who could be out for several weeks after being forced off late in the first half at Anfield with a hamstring injury, reckons Diouf could be the difference between winning the title or not for Gerard Houllier's side.
He said: "We took four points from Liverpool last season, winning 2-0 at our place and drawing 1-1 at Anfield. We didn't give them much then.
"Now from what I've seen of Diouf he could be that little difference, that something extra that could turn them into champions."
Diouf got a standing ovation when he came off with 10 minutes left, already a new hero of the Kop.
He said: "I got goose pimples when I went off at the end. It was a great moment for me and I must thank the fans for that reception. It meant a great deal.
"It was a wonderful debut for me and to score two goals was just a dream."
And Diouf added: "The most important thing is the team being successful, but if I score goals as well then that's great. I would like to score at least 15 in the league before the end of the season, but I'd also like to create as many goals as I can as well.
"I get as much satisfaction out of making goals as I do out of scoring them. This was a good day for me and a good day for the team. Hopefully it will be the first of many."
Diouf's double and a late Danny Murphy penalty, made Liverpool one of only two 100Premiership clubs, the other being leaders Leeds.
And the African player of the year added: "It was an important result for us and to have started the season with two wins is very good.
"It gives us something to build on and we can go on from here now and hopefully pick up another three points at Blackburn on Wednesday."
Lundekvam has few doubts about Liverpool's new young star.
He added: "El Hadji is a good player with excellent technique. He's sharp and he works hard. He's also pretty quick so he's already a good asset for Liverpool.
"We have had to contend with Owen and Heskey up front, now they've got another one. Liverpool seem to have attacking players from all positions.
"He drops short to receive the ball, and he can spin behind you as well, you don't really know where he is.
"He's settled into English football very quickly, after just three matches he looks very comfortable already. But then good players do find that settling into different leagues and countries comes easily."
Last weekend at Aston Villa, Diouf kept Emile Heskey on the bench. This time Heskey was utilised on the left of midfield, often breaking midfield to create a three-man front line that can do damage to better teams than Saints.
Houllier said: "Emile is a very big part of my plans and I was pleased for him because he contributed to both goals and he is the one who is helping El Hadji to settle into the team, he has befriended him and helps him mix with the other lads.
"That team spirit has contributed to him scoring two very good goals. Diouf is not only a great lad he's a great player. He mixes well with the other players, and it is good to have him around Heskey because it's Emile who is helping him settle into the team."
For Southampton boss Gordon Strachan there was an honest admittance that skill and class ruled the day.
He said: "Their first goal was down to human error, you can't legislate for players who fall on their backside in the first couple of minutes.
"But we fought back, we created space and the midfield players and full-backs did very well to carry the game to Liverpool. But from 30 yards out we were toothless, and that's our problem.
"We got to half-time without any further mishap and then conceded another goal very quickly after the break from a long throw, which annoyed me.
"From then on there wasn't much we could do, and then we let them have another right at the end and the score looks unfair to us.
"Sometimes people don't have enough ability, sometimes it's bad luck. But you seem to find that good players have less bad luck when they are playing."
