Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sung the praises of Jorg Schmadtke earlier this year as he closes on being appointed their new sporting director.

Schmadtke left VfL Wolfsburg in January with it now emerging Liverpool were in contact at the same time.

And during that month, Klopp remarked: “I would have liked to work with him (Schmadtke), I’m sure it would have worked out well.

“He’s a top character, somebody who never changed in 38 years and stayed true to himself. He’ll be missed by football.”

Klopp also recalled: “I was 19 and had a dream of making it as professional.

“I went to a trial at Fortuna where Jorg was in goal and a very big name there. I put everything into it and ran like a devil but what can I say? I was a total flop.

“I guess Schmadtke remembered that. He never made me an offer (to coach) at any of his clubs. He must have thought, ‘if Klopp can’t play football, he can’t be a decent manager either’!”

Liverpool continued their strong end to the season with a sixth successive victory by edging past Brentford on Saturday evening.

Mohamed Salah scored the only goal as the Reds secured a narrow 1-0 victory. Liverpool will now look to keep alive their slender hopes of Champions League qualification when they travel to struggling Leicester City next Monday.

And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.

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Same again at back?

With more than nine days between the win over Brentford and the visit to the King Power Stadium, there is perhaps no issue regards benching tired players next time out for Jurgen Klopp.

It makes it unlikely, then, that there will be much change in the defence, although Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have rotated at left-back of late, even if the former is clearly first choice. So too Trent Alexander-Arnold in his new, expansive right-back role. Joe Gomez and James Milner are the more orthodox alternatives with Calvin Ramsay out for the season.

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the preferred centre-back pairing once more, with Joel Matip and Gomez next in line. Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams have each made the bench just once in the Premier League since mid-February.

Alisson Becker continues to be number one between the sticks ahead of Caomhin Kelleher and Adrian.

Midfield headache

There isn’t much scope for huge change in midfield given the growing list of absentees.

Both Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are out for the season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t been involved for eight games, Naby Keita has been absent since being substituted at half-time at Crystal Palace more than two months ago while Arthur Melo still hasn’t played in the Premier League. The latter three will all leave the club in the summer.

With Jordan Henderson not fully fit, Klopp employed just two recognised midfielders against Brentford in Fabinho and Curtis Jones, with Cody Gakpo dropping back to join the engine room.

Henderson, who had a late cameo from the bench at the weekend, should be 100% next Monday, with Milner and Harvey Elliott the only other alternatives.

Diaz dilemma

Arguably the biggest call for Klopp is whether to restore Luis Diaz to the starting line-up having rested him to the bench on Saturday having started successive games following his return after almost six months out.

Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez are other alternatives on the left, and can both also join fit-again Roberto Firmino and Gakpo in competing for a slot down the middle.

Mohamed Salah will hope to continue his strong end to the campaign down the right, with Elliott and Fabio Carvalho the other available attacking options.

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