Jürgen Klopp has an interesting turn of phrase when it comes to describing Liverpool’s summer transfer policy. “In Germany, we say ‘we have to eat a lot of frogs’,” he said.

‘Bite the bullet’ is the closest English idiom to the one Klopp chose to explain why Champions League qualification will be vital to attracting top-quality players to Anfield.

At the beginning of last month, Liverpool’s manager said that he did not want players who were interested in joining the club only for Champions League football, and that his priority instead was signings who were keen to help push the team towards greater success.

Yet with a top-four Premier League finish now within grasp, Klopp appears to have relaxed his stance a little. He is, as the saying goes, ready to eat the frogs.