“You need these players like Hendo and Millie to help create a special spirit in the squad, otherwise it doesn’t work.

“There are no doubts about Hendo. I didn’t need the final proof in and around the World Cup or in last season.

“He had to learn kind of a new position for him. I still remember the Burnley game [at Turf Moor in August 2016] when we lost 2-0 with 80 per cent possession,” Jurgen Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.

“Hendo for sure was involved in the first goal with a press ball that he didn’t win. One of the main things I was asked about after the game was: ‘Can he really play as the No.6?’ I said: ‘Yes, he can and he will.’ He had to learn and he had to improve and that’s exactly what he did.

“He can still play as the eight or we could play some games with a double six, Fabinho could play the eight or whatever, that’s all possible.

“If things were fixed with just one line-up and all the others were only needed when the rest are ill that would be the wrong way and we’d have no chance.”