Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended Xabi Alonso's decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.

Given Klopp is leaving the Anfield club in the summer, Alonso was touted as a replacement.

However, he has chosen to reject both the Reds and Bayern Munich to remain at Bayer for now.

Klopp told a press conference on Friday: "A young manager being at a club that is doing really well, I was in a similar situation [at Mainz], I did pretty much the same.

“I never regretted it. That's pretty much everything I can say about Xabi.

"He's doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen has a good team and will probably keep their team together [in the summer transfer window].

“That's possible. It's not in all years like that. I understand that he wants to do that. For the other stuff, I have nothing to say about it to be honest."