RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner 'proud' of Liverpool link but knows he must improve to play for 'best team in the world'

Reports suggest Premier League leaders are interested in signing the German goal hero against Tottenham on Werdnesday

Midfielder Dele Alli reacts after having been substituted against RB Leipzig. AFP

Leipzig's Konrad Laimer in action with Tottenham's Dele Alli, who had a frustrating night. Reuters

Dele All gets angry as he is being substituted by Tottenham's Erik Lamela. AP

Dele Alli reacts badly to coming off as he passes manager Jose Mourinho. PA

Dele Alli on the bench after coming off. AFP

Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci in action. EPA

Referee Cuneyt Cakir shows a yellow card to Tottenham defender Ben Davies for his foul on Konrad Laimer that led to the penalty. AFP

Timo Werner converts the penalty. Getty

Timo Werner and teammates celebrate after scoring from the spot. Getty

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho had a tough night without both his top strikers. EPA

Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer, Lukas Klostermann, Yussuf Poulsen and Marcel Halstenberg applaud fans at the end of the match. Reuters

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner says he is proud to have been linked with a move to Premier League leaders Liverpool but said he must improve to earn the right to play for "the best team in the world".

The 23-year-old scored a penalty to give Leipzig a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday, taking his tally to 26 goals for the club in all competitions this season.

Sport Bild reported last week that European champions Liverpool, who already boast the powerful attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, were interested in signing Werner at the end of the campaign.

"Liverpool is the best team in the world at the moment and when you're linked with that team it makes me very proud," the Germany international told Viasport.

"But I know that Liverpool play a lot of good players and I have to improve myself to learn much more things to get on this level to play there."

Werner also said Leipzig still had work to do to finish the job against Spurs, who produced a dramatic comeback win at Ajax Amsterdam in last year's semi-finals.

"Tottenham is a good team, they showed last year that they have the mentality to come back in these games," Werner said.

Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann was delighted with his young players and the mature performance they produced in front of more than 60,000 spectators.

He said: "I think it was a bit tricky in the end because we didn't score the second goal.

"In the game over the 90 minutes, apart from one chance from [Steven ] Bergwijn, I think we controlled the game, with a lot of good possession and played a mature way in the first half.

"Young teams often become impatient and think you have to score an early goal, but they weren't like that and they defended well against Tottenham's counter-attacking game.

"In the second leg, we will do it, I promise you, in the same way.

"We always try to attack the opponents very early and try to win the ball high up in their half. Today, in the second half, we tried to create a bit more on the counter.

"The first half was very good. We created three or four chances after two minutes. After the goal it wasn't that easy to find spaces and create chances. It was a good game. We had good control, good ball possession."