Liverpool chief Ian Ayre insists they do not need Champions League qualification to maintain their transfer plans.

Ayre revealed that their future spending plans do not necessarily depend on qualification for the Champions League.

He said: "We have always said it's about progress. When we brought these owners in and we all sat down, we didn't make the plan based on one year or two years, we made our plan in the long term.

"It's about making progress and we have definitely made progress this season; already won one trophy, the semi-final of another, 10 games to play for 30 points, so it's about that.

"[Director of football] Damien [Comolli], Kenny, everybody involved in looking, assessing and signing players, will make those decisions based on what we need, not on where we finish in the league."