Jurgen Klopp has conceded that Liverpool “could have needed a deeper squad” this season.

Klopp’s Liverpool have dropped to fifth in the Premier League after a miserable January in which they failed to win a single top-flight game and exited both domestic cup competitions.

They have only been able to field first-choice defensive pairing Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip in ten Premier League games (in which they have been unbeaten) while they have struggled in the absence of Sadio Mane and Phillipe Coutinho.

Klopp cleared the decks last summer and only 19 players have started Premier League games this season, including 18-year-old right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He admits that they will need a bigger squad if they are competing in Europe next season, telling the Liverpool Echo:

“We don’t have to talk about the Champions League now because we are not even qualified.

“But of course if we are in the Champions League then it would have an influence. We would need a deeper squad and you have to be prepared for that. No question.

“Even with the league this season, we could have needed a deeper squad with the injuries we had. But we’re through that now.

“We will adapt our plans to the number of tournaments we play next year.”

Klopp believes he already has a ‘good squad’ but needs more quality added this summer.

“At the end I’m sure we will have a really good squad,” he said. “We already have a good squad and a few more good players will make it even better. There’s a good base.”