Jurgen Klopp has further explained his decision not to replace Philippe Coutinho during the current transfer window.

The Liverpool boss is ready to put his faith in the players already within his squad following Coutinho’s £145m move to Barcelona.

Klopp admits Liverpool are ready to spend money if circumstances change but says he will not spend just to satisfy those who believe Coutinho should be replaced now.

The German believes that the returning Adam Lallana and in-form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can provide capable alternatives to the recently departed Brazilian.

He said: “I don’t think about money. Nobody told me that I have to think about money because we are always reasonable, we always try to do the right thing. Obviously we don’t hesitate to spend the money, we did a few times, but it is not about the moment, it is about making the right decision.

“I really think, it is not that Adam Lallana is a replacement for Philippe Coutinho but he is back. Cool. It is another wonderful, creative, offensive midfield player. Does he have the same free kick as Philippe Coutinho? No, but there are a lot of things he can do. He can make us stronger in these situations.

“And there are other players who can stand up. Oxlade-Chamberlain was here all the time with Phil together but he can do a job, Milly still, Gini, so they are all here and can make an improvement and develop in the season so that is all good.

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“If anything obviously right would be there in the window then nobody would not do it and we say, ok, let’s go for it but it is not about doing something to cool the situation down or show the people we don’t sleep. It is only about right or wrong and at this moment in this situation it is right.”

(Image: Colin Lane)

Lallana has made six appearances since returning from a thigh injury suffered in pre-season. The 29-year-old started in the victories against Burnley in the Premier League and Everton in the FA Cup.

Klopp says that Lallana is not yet 100 percent - but he has backed the former Southampton midfielder to make a big impression between now and May and confirm his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup.

He said: “Wow. If Mr Southgate can leave Adam Lallana out of his squad, then really I congratulate you already to winning the World Cup. Because then it is a squad like I can’t imagine how strong.

“Adam Lallana was out for half-a-season and like all players he needs all his physical strength. He could play so far but you saw when he played with all the genius moments he had, very decisive moments, you could see that he really feels the intensity.

“He had a big muscle injury so we can not push him through, and say “Come on, try it again, try it again”. That is impossible. But we need him. Really we need him for the rest of the season. So he is still building up that fitness level on a very good way.

“It looks already massively different to how it was three, four weeks ago when he was already match fit but not 100 per cent fit. So, all good and one of the best things we’ve had in the last few months that he’s back.

“He is really close. He can play 90 minutes and then how do you feel afterwards. It feels absolutely different to how it felt half a year ago. Usually fitness doesn’t show always in the 90 minutes, it is how you recover from it. If you need one day, it’s Ok. If you need two days, it is very often too long for us because we play every three days. That is the situation, everything fine.”

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

As for Oxlade-Chamberlain, Klopp believes that Liverpool are reaping the benefits from showing patience and allowing the 24-year-old time to settle following his £35m move from Arsenal in the summer.

In fact, Klopp admitted that he was surprised by Southgate’s decision to omit Oxlade-Chamberlain from his England squad for friendlies with Germany and Brazil in November.

“I think if a player has quality, patience always shows off,” said Klopp.

“It is quite difficult in this world of football, it is not difficult for me to be patient, but it is difficult for the players. Everywhere where they live, they ask, why you make the move, you don’t play.

“It is no criticism. When Gareth Southgate didn’t nominate Oxlade-Chamberlain because he didn’t play often enough for the club, there was a moment when I thought ‘oh, wow’. I don’t want to kill perspective for the players but you still need time and he played already. He was new at the club.

“Of course I am really happy for the players when he can show everything what we saw in them when we decided to make the transfer because all what they did until then was good enough that we got interested. But we want more. There is no reason.

“They are all in an age group where we don’t think ‘that’s it, development stops from now on.’ There is always space for improvement. They did a few steps already and I am sure they can do a few more.”