Arne Slot says Liverpool missed out on signing Lutsharel Geertruida before the close of the January transfer window on Monday evening, admitting he did want to strengthen his squad.

But the Reds boss insists he harbours no frustration over the club's failure to bolster his ranks as he now plots qualification to the Champions League without the reinforcements he craved.

After January injuries to Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong further weakened a defensive department also without Giovanni Leoni, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in September, the Premier League champions attempt to bring in cover in the shape of Geertruida, who was Slot's captain at Feyenoord.

However, a deal for the Netherlands international, who is on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, proved too difficult to do that late in the window and by Sunday evening, Liverpool had accepted defeat and moved on from the...