Jamie Redknapp claims that “spending power” is not the only reason why Liverpool are top of the Premier League.
The Reds splashed out last winter on Virgil van Dijk, while they made a number of key signings in the summer to bolster their squad.
And they are reaping the rewards at the moment, with their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign meaning that they sit six points clear of second-placed Tottenham.
However, Redknapp doesn’t think the main reason for Liverpool’s brilliant start this season is down to spending and has used Manchester United as an example of how money doesn’t always buy you success.
“It is true that Klopp has been able to splash the cash in the last 12 months,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.
“Since January, Liverpool have spent more than £250 million on Virgil van Dijk, the Premier League’s best defender, Brazil’s No 1 goalkeeper Alisson and bolstered their midfield.
“But spending power alone is not why Liverpool lead the Premier League by six points at the season’s halfway stage.
“Manchester United have spent nearly £200m more than Klopp over the last three seasons and at no point have they looked like title contenders.
“The Liverpool team who thrashed Benitez’s Newcastle 4-0 included an academy graduate, Trent Alexander-Arnold, an £8m left back, Andrew Robertson and Xherdan Shaqiri who — at £13m from Stoke — is proving to be one of the bargains of the summer.
“Klopp is a manager who not only has an eye for a good player but improves them, too. Mohamed Salah was not a 40-goal forward and a contender for the Ballon d’Or when he arrived at the club.
“Joe Gomez has been transformed into a first-choice centre half for England, a player who before his injury was keeping a World Cup finalist in Dejan Lovren out of the Liverpool team.
“Having left the comfort zone at Arsenal last season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked a certainty for England’s World Cup squad before damaging knee ligaments in the Champions League semi-finals.
“What is even more remarkable about Liverpool’s continued development under Klopp is that it has not been curtailed by the loss of their world-class playmaker, Philippe Coutinho.”