Liverpool's Lijnders insists players unfazed by discussion of sale

Liverpool's assistant manager Pep Lijnders insists the staff and players have not been distracted by talk of a potential sale by club owners Fenway Sports Group. A report on Monday suggested the American-based owners had produced a sales deck and investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were assisting the evaluation process. FSG admits it is open to accepting new shareholders but has not gone as far as to say the club as a whole is on the market, although it has not definitively ruled it out.

Lijnders, manager Jurgen Klopp and his other staff and players were made aware of the current situation regarding FSG up to 10 days ago and so it had not come as a surprise. "Everybody who knows us as a club knows we have a strong relationship with the owners," said Lijnders, ahead of the club's defence of their Carabao Cup title at home to Derby. "I always knew the owners acted in the best interests of the club and always have done.

The statement was very clear. "How did it distract us? To be honest, this is what I like about our club, that we are so focused. There was a small discussion, a talk between Jurgen and me, and then we start focusing on a big game coming up.

"We thought it would not come out now but it's all fine. We focus on what matters and what matters is preparing for Derby." Lijnders was asked when he and Klopp signed their new two-year contract extensions earlier this year it had been on the basis of a continued working relationship with FSG. "Of course.

You sign a deal with LFC and the owners, but we are not naive to think that things (won't) change in football. That's how it works," he added. "But as I said, our relationship with them is very good.