Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool will 'spend in the summer' after 'anomaly' season

Reds face fight to finish in Premier League top four, less than a year after competing for the quadruple

Jurgen Klopp revealed Liverpool will be active in the transfer market this summer. Getty

Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool will "spend in the summer" with the aim to bounce back from a disappointing season, which he described as an "anomaly".

Liverpool were in contention for an unprecedented quadruple last season after winning the League Cup and FA Cup but fell just short after being pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City and narrowly losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid.

This season, though, as seen a remarkable drop-off from the Reds, who sit sixth in the Premier League table - seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham albeit having played two games fewer - while exiting both domestic cups and the Champions League in the first knockout stage.

A top-four finish, and with it qualification to next season's Champions League, is all that Klopp's side can now salvage from the campaign, and they travel to champions Manchester City on Saturday afternoon for what could be a crucial match to their remaining ambition.

Much of the criticism for Liverpool's decline has been aimed at their midfield, while the team has had to adjust to the departure of key forward Sadio Mane, who joined Bayern Munich last summer. The Senegal star's big-money replacement, Darwin Nunez, has taken time to settle, and January arrival Cody Gakpo is still getting up to speed with his new team.

Attention has already turned to how Liverpool will strengthen in the summer, with Borussia Dortmund's England midfielder Jude Bellingham reportedly their top target.

"We will spend in the summer, that's what I can say definitely," Klopp said. "For who and how many and stuff like this, there is nothing to say about, really."

Premier League predictions

SATURDAY - Manchester City v Liverpool (3.30pm kick-off UAE): What has been a top-two title clash for the last few seasons this time round sees second-placed City hold a four-place and 15-point advantage over the Merseysiders. City need the win to keep the pressure on Arsenal at the top, while Liverpool are hanging on the coattails of fourth place. Prediction: City 3 Liverpool 1. Getty

Arsenal v Leeds (6pm): The Gunners enjoy a eight-point lead at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City. Leeds have shown signs of improvement under Javi Gracia but remain perilously close to the relegation zone and sit just two points above the bottom three. Prediction: Arsenal 4 Leeds 1. Reuters

Bournemouth v Fulham (6pm): Both teams fell to 3-0 defeats in their last league outing - against Aston Villa and Arsenal, respectively. The Cherries sit second from bottom having lost three of their previous four games. Fulham's hope of European football next season have taken a hit lately after losing two of their previous three matches. Prediction: Bournemouth 0 Fulham 2. PA

Brighton v Brentford (6pm): Two potential rivals for a European spot separated only by goal difference clash on the south coast. The Seagulls are in seventh and sit one place ahead of the Bees and will be looking for revenge after losing 2-0 in the capital back in October. Prediction: Brighton 1 Brentford 1. Getty

Crystal Palace v Leicester City (6pm): These two are currently in the bottom three of the form table with neither having won a single game in their last five outings. Palace's form has been so bad that they ditched Patrick Vieira as manager and replaced him with the 75-year-old Roy Hodgson. No joy for the septuagenarian here I'm afraid. Palace 1 Leicester 2. Getty

Nottingham Forest v Wolves (6pm): The battle to avoid the drop is an intriguing one with nine clubs very much still in the relegation battle. It is fair to say neither of these two are in great form with Forest taking two points from a possible 15, while Wolves are marginally better off after claiming four points from the same number of games. Prediction: Forest 1 Wolves 1. AFP

Chelsea v Aston Villa (8.30pm): Chelsea missed an opportunity to build on their recent revival before the international break when they allowed Everton to twice come back and earn a draw at Stamford Bridge. They face a Villa side that has earned three wins and a draw from their last four games. Prediction: Chelsea 2 Villa 1

SUNDAY - West Ham v Southampton (5pm): The proverbial relegation six-pointer at the London Stadium as third bottom West Ham take on rock-bottom Southampton. The Saints showed plenty of fight to earn a point against Spurs last time out but will have less joy across the capital here. Prediction: West Ham 2 Southampton 0. Getty

Newcastle v Manchester United (7.30pm): Fifth takes on third with the Magpies potentially overtaking their opponents if they take all three points. Eddie Howe's side have won two on the spin to boost their top-four quest and expect St James' Park to be rocking on Sunday as they attempt to make it three. Prediction: Newcastle 2 Man United 1. AFP

MONDAY - Everton v Tottenham (11pm): Spurs' first game post Antonio Conte is a tricky one. Goodison Park can be a bear pit on occasions and Sean Dyche has certainly instilled some organisation and fight into Everton. But Spurs players will have a point to prove and they have Harry Kane flying for club and country at the moment. Prediction: Everton 1 Spurs 3. Getty

Meanwhile, Klopp said criticism of the club's medical and physical preparation was misplaced despite the role injuries to key players have played in a difficult season.

"(This season is) an anomaly but I would prefer we were still in the Champions League spot," said Klopp. "It doesn't change overnight, you don't lose all our brains and fitness and medical (department).

"Things happen and then you have to react, but when you are a little bit unlucky in this direction then it's really difficult and the league is running away at that moment.

"That is where we were. The football part, we didn't deal well enough with setbacks through the season."