Liverpool hero John Barnes has hailed the impact of manager Jurgen Klopp this season.

Barnes praised Klopp for returning the club to the Champions League with a squad weaker than that of their rivals who missed out on the top four.

"It's a great for Liverpool, being back in the Champions League," Barnes, who played 407 times for Liverpool from 1987-97, said. "The club should be in the Champions League, it is where we believe we belong. That is where all the big clubs want to belong.

"For Jurgen Klopp, all you can ask any manager to do is to maximise the potential of the team, and this is what he has done.

"You look at Manchester United finishing sixth for example, they have got a better squad. Arsenal have got a better squad and they finished fifth.

"Jurgen Klopp is not a magician, you can't just ask him to win the league with the squad we have. But the Champions League is important to entice a few players."