Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says it will be difficult to make any improvements to his squad after another transfer window of moderate spending by the world and European Champions.

The league leaders secured the bargain £7.25 million signing of Takumi Minamino from RB Salzburg early in January, which followed a summer where back-up keeper Adrian - a free agent - was the only addition to the senior squad.

Teenager Harvey Elliott, who has mainly been part of the Under-23 set-up, was also added from Fulham for a fee yet to be determined.

But Klopp’s favoured starting XI was been consistent for two years, and, given the average age of the squad, he recognised the challenge of trying to upgrade players responsible for a near-perfect level.

“A squad like this, to improve easily would be really strange,” said Klopp.

“It would have to be 100 per cent the right player, or we do it internally, or we do it internally and externally. All possible.

“We just prepare potential situations. We always try to strengthen and to strengthen could mean as well that we look at our own squad. Who can make the next step? Who is ready for doing that? Who will hopefully not be injured and can hopefully make the next steps as well? Like Ox and Naby - some little injuries here and there cost them always a little bit of rhythm, but we all know about the quality of them. Curtis (Jones) now came on in the last game, looked pretty promising.

“These are talks we have, where we try to estimate the future. We believe that we can do a lot with this existing squad - that these boys can make the next steps. As long as you can make the next step, you are in the right place and we just have to make sure that they do them as well.”