Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confessed he was surprised to hear Jordan Henderson ask to leave the club this summer.
The midfielder ended his 12-year association with Liverpool by sealing a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq, where he will reunite with Anfield legend Steven Gerrard, who joined as manager earlier this month.
It was a shock move which Klopp did not see coming and the boss admitted Liverpool face a tough task replacing Henderson's influence in the dressing room and on the pitch.
"Was I surprised when Henderson said he wanted to move on? Of course," Klopp told a press conference. "We had a relationship for eight years.
"He knew the situation that we wanted to keep him but if he wanted to leave we weren't going to throw rocks and stones in the way. It was about reacting to it. Jordan will miss us and we will miss him. We have to go on and we will. That is clear."
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With Fabinho also closing in on his own move to Saudi Arabia, Liverpool find themselves back where they started earlier in the summer. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already joined the club but Klopp wants more numbers in his midfield.
"It's definitely important to strengthen in midfield," the boss continued. "We have to do something, that is clear.
"We are working on solutions. First people want changes, now everyone is worrying about the changes. We are really optimistic about it. Excited as well."
90min understands an improved offer for Southampton star Romeo Lavia is expected to arrive imminently, with Liverpool wary of long-standing interest in the Belgian from Chelsea.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Jurgen Klopp reacts to 'surprise' Jordan Henderson departure.