Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says a sporting director is imperative for the way he works.

Klopp's current sporting director at Anfield, Michael Edwards, is leaving at the end of the season. His deputy, Julian Ward, will assume the role next summer.

Klopp believes it is a crucial role which takes the pressure off the manager.

"If I would have come here 10 years ago and told you a sporting director is really important you would have told me 'go back to Germany and deal with that there!' he said.

"I wanted a sporting director when I came here. Michael had a similar job before, but he got the job in the end because I don't want to deal every day with players' agents and anything that takes away from the really important stuff you have to do."