Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Ahead of the Champions League final, Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane surveyed his squad and jokingly declared he was “f***ed”, such were his litany of riches.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp viewed his own options and probably thought exactly the same thing, albeit for vastly contrasting reasons.

When the two teams had last met in 2014 at the Bernabeu, much was made about the strength of Liverpool's bench. Four years later, little had changed.

Gareth Bale's two goals inevitably commanded the spotlight in Kiev, Zidane able to call upon a 100million euro player from the bench to help turn the game.

But it's the players who didn't even make Real's 18-man squad that tell the full tale, highly-rated 21-year-olds Dani Ceballos and Borja Mayoral among those to miss out.

As Zidane's comments suggested, Real were in a unique position with the luxury of an injury-free squad from which to choose. That is not the norm.

However, the more indicative factor came in the starting line-ups.

Real were missing only two that began the 2016 Champions League final win against Atletico Madrid.

(Image: THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP/Getty Images)

Liverpool's XI, meanwhile, had only three players who started the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla the same year.

It underlined both the experience and stability of Real, but also how Liverpool have been in a constant state of evolution since Klopp assumed control in October 2015.

Consider this. Whether from the start or the bench, the Liverpool boss used 17 players who appeared in at least half of the Reds' 38 Premier League games during the course of the campaign.

For comparison, champions Manchester City used only 13. So too Tottenham Hotspur, who finished third, while runners-up Manchester United had 14.

Liverpool's high number had something to do with injuries, of course, but also the fact Klopp was striving for much of the campaign to determine his best team, a process that saw the back five that stepped out in Kiev markedly different to the one that began the season at Watford.

Indeed, neither Philippe Coutinho nor Virgil van Dijk played half the Premier League season for the Reds, both making 14 top-flight appearances.

So why, then, did Real not walk La Liga?

They had 16 players who featured in at least half of their domestic league games and finished third, a huge distance behind Barcelona. The Catalans had only 12 players to feature for 19 games or more in La Liga.

There is a pattern.

Improving strength in depth is important. But more critical is that quality and not quantity remains the watchword, an approach that has bore fruit already for Klopp and his recruitment team during recent transfer windows.

Not for them merely filling out the squad. Players are instead primarily targeted to instantly challenge for the first team, as with new signing Fabinho and the incoming Naby Keita, as well as attacking midfield target Nabil Fekir.

Klopp brought in 13 players in his first five transfer windows, two of whom were temporary measures – Steven Caulker and Alex Manninger – with Marko Grujic and Dominic Solanke ones for the future. Five of the remaining nine started the Champions League final, with two on the bench and the other two injured.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

In the same period of time, predecessor Brendan Rodgers bought 25 players. As few as six could remain at Liverpool by the start of next season.

For Reds fans scratching their heads at fitting the midfield together next season, a manager can never have too many options as injuries, suspensions and loss of form take effect. Those players will rarely all be available.

The emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn underlines the value of a strong youth policy.

But constructing a solid, reliable core is evidently key to success.

It cannot be done overnight. It takes time and it costs money, although Liverpool's recruitment team deserve credit for some excellent, value-for-money deals.

Fabinho and Keita are in the bag. Fekir is wanted. A goalkeeper is being targeted. And there will always be room for the right player should they become available, Liverpool flush with funds from their Champions League run and the £142million sale of Coutinho in January.

Now Klopp is edging nearer possessing the nucleus capable of making the Reds genuine challengers at home, as well as abroad.