Klopp planning for next season

The loss on penalties to Manchester City, whom they meet again in the Premier League on Wednesday, was a blow but the Reds boss is adamant it will not overly-affect his long-term view of the squad.

That includes goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who even Klopp admits could have done better with Fernandinho's shot for the opening goal.

"I didn't read the newspapers but everyone told me there is a little bit of rumour about (him)," he said.

"I would lie if I said the goal we got (conceded) in the final was 'unholdable' but Simon knows it too.

"I am not sure it is a mistake but it was not perfect. That is football players' lives, especially goalkeepers' lives.

"But on the other hand I cannot say absolutely anything negative about Simon.

"Since I've been here he has had to handle a lot of pressure and I think there was any day when someone outside Melwood has been 100 percent satisfied with what he did but he has had a lot of good games for us.

"He is old enough and experienced enough and together we have to handle this situation and together we have to go through.

"Even when it is a final I cannot make final judgements and say 'So now I see I can trust him, and him I can trust always' - that is not how life and football is.

"At the end when we have to make decisions there is a lot of information and maybe it is 500, 600, things to think about and then only one of them is how we played in the final.

"I always learn about my players but not only in finals."

Klopp, Press Association Sport understands, is set to be handed the biggest transfer fund of any Liverpool manager this summer.

It is likely to signal a significant overhaul of the squad but the German is already working on his plans for the close season.

"We will plan for next season, that is clear. We have to wait for the right moment and we have to think about a lot of things," he added.

"I cannot say we are close to this decision or that decision but we work the whole day and it is not only preparing for games.

"We have to plan the future and that is what we are doing."

Source: PA