Liverpool forward Diogo Jota credited playing alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane with lifting his game as he scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 Champions League win over Atalanta.
"I'm playing in the best team of my career so far," said the 23-year-old, who has now scored in four consecutive games since his move from Wolves in September.
On a prolific night across Europe which also saw holders Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach score six goals each, Jota turned in one of the star individual performances.
The Portuguese became just the second player to score on his first two starts in the Champions League for Liverpool, after Robbie Keane in 2008. He scored the opener in a 2-0 win over Midtjylland last time out.
Jota scored twice in the first half before completing his hat-trick after 55 minutes in Bergamo. Salah and Mane both scored just after the break.
"Obviously Mane and Salah are two world-class players, we all know their quality which makes it easier for me to do my job," Jota said.
Manager Jurgen Klopp insisted Jota's form does not give him a selection problem with Roberto Firmino rested ahead of the Premier League clash with Manchester City this weekend.
"Good performances never give me a headache," said the German. "It was clear that it made more sense to use the good shape that Diogo is in and because of the way Atalanta plays in defense."
With three wins from three, Liverpool are on course to top Group D. Ajax and Atalanta are five points back after Ajax won 2-1 over Midtjylland in Denmark.
Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski grabbed a brace as Group A leaders Bayern beat Salzburg 6-2 in Austria for a record 14th consecutive win in the competition.
Bayern are in control of Group A, five points ahead of Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 at Lokomotiv Moscow.
Alassane Plea's hat-trick inspired Gladbach to a stunning 6-0 Group B victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Kiev. They are one point clear of Shakhtar and Real Madrid.
Real ran out 3-2 winners in a dramatic encounter with Inter Milan at home.
Brazilian substitute Rodrygo scored the decisive goal 10 minutes from time after Sergio Ramos headed in his 100th Madrid goal.
Group C leaders Manchester City eased past Olympiakos 3-0, while Porto beat Marseille by the same score.
Diogo Jota has now scored in four consecutive games since moving to Liverpool from Wolves. AFP
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