Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders says he never considered applying for the senior job.

Lijnders was asked today if he'd thought about stepping up as Jurgen Klopp departs this summer.

He said, "Nah. I was really clear to be honest. When we had the talk a long time ago, for me it was clear. It made it easier for me when he [Klopp] said 'this will be it]. We knew in the summer already 'OK we are going towards the end of this project'.

"Here I am talking too much about me...we play in a final in 48 hours the final and we are talking about Jurgen leaving. I understand, so I think I have given already answers in interviews. So we spoke, I got the last year offers and my heart says yes, but my loyalty, respect and friendship to Mike [Gordon] and Jurgen said 'no'. So on the moment we spoke we agreed to finish this project together, then I will go an manage.

"I feel it's the project of a lot of people. And it is the right way to do it like this. That the club will find a new coach with new elements. I am excited to manage. To go to find the right club who really wants [me]. But until the last final of the season I am focused on Liverpool and don't even know what's happening now. That is why we have agents, no?"