Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to outgoing Liverpool duo Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara.
It was confirmed on Friday that their respective spells with the Anfield club are set to come to an end when their existing contracts expire at the end of next month.
Matip has spent eight years with the Reds, making 201 appearances in that time and winning six of the seven major honours delivered during Klopp’s lengthy tenure.
Thiago, meanwhile, moved to Merseyside in summer 2020 from Bayern Munich but has been beset by injuries which restricted him to just 98 outings in all competitions.
Ahead of Sunday’s Premier League finale with Wolves, Klopp paid tribute to the pair.
He said: Joel and Thiago were in my office, we spoke a bit longer this week.
“Have you ever seen a better free transfer than Joel Matip? You will not find a more likeable person than Joel Matip. He is funny in his own way.
“He is ridiculously funny, to be honest, and a wonderful man with a wonderful family. He has to make a decision, does he want to play on or not?
“We will see that or read it. But whoever gets him is a lucky club definitely, because he is world-class and super-humble. That together is really rare. Like, super-humble.
“The next world-class player is then obviously Thiago. In a parallel world, I would have loved to see the career without injuries.
“He is, I’m not sure the best, but definitely one of the best I ever saw. He can do things, I’m not sure before that I thought were possible.
“He is in control of absolutely everything on the pitch. Unfortunately, the body didn’t play exactly a part. But he is in a good way, he looked really good yesterday.
“I’m sure he will want to give it a try again. I told them already thank you for everything they did so I don’t think I have to tell you that now.
“But whoever leaves this club and we worked together in the last few years, they were all brilliant.
“If they wouldn’t have been brilliant they would have left last year, because we don’t carry problems with us. I’m really, really thankful for all of them.”