Klopp explains decision to let Clyne and Solanke leave Liverpool for Bournemouth

While the boss admitted it was merely coincidence that Bournemouth acquired both of them, Solanke permanently and Clyne on loan, he had received a request from the defender to go elsewhere in order to prolong his career at top flight.

Selling Solanke made financial sense, as the £19million fee plus Jordan Ibe and Brad Smith's deals meant Liverpool covered the price they paid for the league's leading goal scorer, Mo Salah.

Klopp's squad is briming with forwards, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Salah featuring heavily.

But there are also several waiting in the wings; Daniel Sturridge has been fighting his way back into the squad, and as Divock Origi scored the last-gasp winner in the Merseyside derby, Solanke hadn't featured for Liverpool this season.

Speaking about the decision to sell young striker Dominic Solanke after just 18 months at Anfield, Klopp said: "For Dom, it was absolutely right to go.

"It was a bit unlucky for him in the moments when there was space for him, when it was easier to come into the team, that he had injuries.

"In the other moments, the squad was full and we had different options.

"He trained pretty well but you cannot stay confident over that long a period [without playing], especially not in his age group. He didn’t play a lot for Chelsea and so he needed to play football now."

While Liverpool are sitting at the top of the table, Bournemouth are 12th and are on a run of four games without a win.

The club are in need of some attacking force and 21-year-old Solanke is likely to feature much more regularly for Eddie Howe's side.

Klopp added:  “Bournemouth made a good offer to be honest and for him it is a really good opportunity.

"Could there have been a moment in the next half year when the situation would have changed for him? Maybe, yes.

"In future we want to sign young players and keep young players here as well, but we don’t want to block them in the moment when maybe we can see something else could be better for them. That’s an important thing."

The youth at Anfield are important to Klopp, as it is the young stars in defence that have prevented Clyne, 27,  from getting regular game time.

Klopp didn't want to lose him entirely but wanted to ensure he was able to keep match fit so agreed to Clyne's request to go out on loan.

The defender has managed just five appearances for Liverpool this season, with three coming from the bench.

He said:  “With Clyney, it is difficult as a manager having an option like Clyney is good.

"When I came in, Clyney played, I don’t know exactly, but it felt like each game; he was always fit and could always play.

"He was a very important part of the squad and helped the team in that time.

“Then he got his injury, a back problem, which nobody knew in the beginning how long it would take.

"It took quite a while and in that time it changed in the team – Joe [Gomez] was fit, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] came up.

"Then, having Clyney still in is OK for a manager but for him, he is in an age where he has to play as well.

“He wants to play, that’s clear, so he came and asked if he can go.

"I thought about it and said then ‘yes, you can’ because we have options, other options, younger boys coming up and all that stuff.

“[Both of them going to] Bournemouth is more a coincidence than anything else.”

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