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Steven Gerrard is convinced that Jurgen Klopp will attract some stellar signings this summer as he warned Liverpool must “seize the moment” following the club’s return to the Champions League.

The former Reds captain experienced playing for Klopp for the first time in Wednesday’s post-season friendly win against Sydney FC and was left wanting more.

Gerrard believes his medal collection would have been significantly enhanced if he had played under the German during his illustrious playing career.

“I was looking around and it was a strange feeling out there,” he told the ECHO.

“I was thinking if Jurgen Klopp had been at the club a bit earlier what might have been.

(Image: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)

“There’s no doubt about it, if he had been here three or four years I believe I would have been part of him delivering big trophies for this club.

“It’s his aura and the way he is with you – how he makes you feel.

“I went out there to play in a friendly and I felt like it was the World Cup final. That’s what he gives players.

“We’re blessed to have him and hopefully we can go from strength to strength over the summer. Everyone is excited.”

It can't be like it was a couple of years ago

Gerrard, who inspired Liverpool’s Champions League final triumph in Istanbul in 2005, is relishing the prospect of the club being back among Europe’s elite.

The Reds haven’t played in the competition since Gerrard left for LA Galaxy at the end of the 2014/15 season.

“It was such a key result against Middlesbrough,” he added.

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“To have Champions League football back is very important for this club.

“Now we have to seize the moment. It can’t be like it was a couple of years when we got back into the Champions League but it quickly fizzled out. It can’t be like that.

“We’re in the qualifying stage but you’ve got to realise that to get to the latter stages of the competition you are talking about top, top class opposition. Top class individuals and managers. It’s important that we keep trying to move forward.“

Gerrard believes Klopp is key to that. Landing targets such as Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita won’t be easy but the Kop icon believes elite players will be lured to Anfield by the chance to work with the German coach.

“If I’m a top player around Europe and Jurgen picks the phone up and I get offered the chance to play for this club, which is moving forward in every single department and has a world class manager leading it, I’d be jumping at that opportunity,” he said.

“I want to play for him and I am 37 next week! For me, it’s such an exciting project. Not just because we qualified for the Champions League but the whole project.

“The next three, four, five, six years, whatever it turns out to be, are going to be very exciting and players will want to be a part of what Jurgen is doing.”

(Image: 2017 Getty Images)

Gerrard is preparing to start his new coaching role as manager of the club’s under-18s in July.

It’s been a season of huge progress for youngsters like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Woodburn, Harry Wilson and Rhian Brewster, who were all involved in the game in Sydney.

However, Gerrard insists the hard graft for them is only just beginning.

“It’s been great to see them do so well because I’ve been there myself,” Gerrard said.

“They are lucky because they have a manager who believes in them and trusts them. He has given them a lot of opportunities to shine.

(Image: 2017 Getty Images)

“It’s going to be a lot tougher for them next season. New signings will come in, Champions League football is coming back.

“They have got to keep ensuring that the manager knows what they are doing on a daily basis.

“They can’t just wait for opportunities in the first team. It has to be a daily thing where they are trying to show Jurgen that they are ready to do a job for him because the bar is going to keep getting raised.”