Thursday 24 August 2017 13:32, UK
Jurgen Klopp hinted that Liverpool's transfer business might not be over after admitting qualifying for the Champions League will help attract players.
The Reds reached the group stages with a 6-3 aggregate victory over Hoffenheim.
Emre Can's brace, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino got the goals in Wednesday's 4-2 win at Anfield in the second leg of the play-off qualifier.
Salah, Andy Robertson and Dominic Solanke are the only new arrivals signed by Klopp this summer after a frustrating transfer window.
However, that might all be about to change, judging by Klopp's reaction to making the group stages.
"It's [Champions League qualification] a big influence on the transfer market, especially if we do it more often," he said.
"I said I think before the game, if you talk to a player, they really often [mention it]... especially players we talk to. We don't have to talk to players which are not better than our players because it's difficult to find.
"I know a few people think differently, but we do a lot of work and it's not that easy to find 20 players in this position that are better, 20 players in that position that are better. But if you talk to them, they say if you would play in the Champions League, it would be really interesting because the club is great, the manager is not too bad and all that stuff.
"Or even if you try to extend a contract with a player in the squad, [they might say], 'Yeah, I want to play Champions League' and I always think 'It's your job to do it with us together, so don't ask that we do a job and you cannot play Champions League - do it with us together.'
"That's what this team did, and that's why I am so happy about it. 14 months' hard work and we did it - nice!"
The Liverpool boss could not hide his personal delight at the prospect of leading Liverpool in Europe's premier competition for the first time.
He said: "Yippee!
"It's all that the club, the team, we worked for in the last 14 months. I know you will always find a few people who will say 'It's just the Champions League or only the Champions League.'
"But we wanted to be part of it with all we have. I saw the boys play a few pieces of outstanding football. How it is in a game like this, especially against an opponent like Hoffenheim, you also have a few problems. That's how it is. But I'm really happy about the deserved qualification for the group stage."
