Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was philosophical after apparently missing out on the signing of Willian to Premier League rivals Tottenham. Martin Skrtel has also been linked with a move to Napoli but Rodgers denied the rumours.

On Slovakia centre-half Skrtel, Rodgers said: "I haven't been told anything about that whatsoever. It was mentioned beforehand but it's the first I heard of it. Ian Ayre, the managing director, does a terrific job and he notifies me straight away and we haven't heard anything.

"We think over the course of the summer we've been very ambitious," he continued on the snub by Brazil's Willian to a switch to Anfield. "The attempt was to get in players to improve the team, some might say too ambitious but this is Liverpool Football Club, we're trying to get the best players we possibly can.

"As I said it's one where if I can't get them it we've just got to move on. We've got 11 days to go, we have to do anything we possibly can because it hasn't changed, if you're going to claim the league you've got to have quality and you have to get the best players into your club to help you climb.

"That's our aim. So of course if you don't get the player you want there's always that disappointment, you can't dwell on it.

"There's still a chunk of the window left and we did some business earlier on in the window, which was very good, and now if we can finish off in these remaining days and get some players in, it would help us and end a very good window for us."