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Jurgen Klopp believes the signings of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain highlight how the perception of Liverpool has changed during the last 12 months.

Oxlade-Chamberlain turned down a move to Premier League champions Chelsea to instead complete a £35million move to Anfield on deadline day last week.

It came just days after the Reds stole a march on several European rivals by agreeing a club record deal that will see highly-rated RB Leipzig midfielder Keita sign next July.

Klopp revealed the subject of Champions League football wasn’t even brought up during negotiations with the Guinea international, such was his faith in the future direction of the club.

And the Reds boss said: “All the players we were allowed to speak to were really positive. It was very clear the image has changed a little bit.

“Last year it was already very good but now we can say we are in the Champions League, but it didn’t feel it was about this, it is more about the project.

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“For example, Naby has no idea if we play Champions League next year because in England it is always difficult (to qualify).

“He did not ask one second about this. He wanted to be part of the club.

“With Ox it was quite similar. He wants to develop and with all his talent and skills he has space to develop.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to be among the substitutes today when Liverpool put their unbeaten start to the season on the line at Manchester City.

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

One of the criticisms of the England international’s arrival is the player hasn’t sufficiently progressed at Arsenal in recent seasons, but Klopp believes it was the correct time for a parting of ways.

“It was the right moment for him to do something,” said the Reds boss.

“We know him for a long time. At the same club he developed a lot but it seems no-one was happy or he was not happy.

“The English players know him already so he has had the easiest coming in. He knows the team as friends and others were happy to have him as part of the club.”

Regarding debate over Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best position, Klopp added: “Two positions are the same – right and left. It was one thing we like, along with his skill and attitude.

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

“If you are a left-back you are a left-back. Maybe you started as a left winger. A centre-half might have started as a number six. Who decides the positions?

“We play sometimes with real wingers but really we only defend with wingers. They are two 10s. When Emre Can is in the box, Salah has to protect. It is quite fluent.

“I am not interested in positions, only when we defend and the distances between players. When we play with fluency we need players for small spaces and big spaces, which he can use.”