Jurgen Klopp hopes Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will all sign new contracts with Liverpool.
The former Reds boss was speaking at the unveiling of his new role – global head of football at Red Bull – when asked about his former players. All three are out of contract this summer and have yet to sign new deals.
He said: “He (Salah) is the greatest striker Liverpool have had in the modern era. Fantastic player, fantastic person, excellent athlete, best ambassador (Egypt) could have. Fantastic actually in almost all areas. So I hope he will stay at Liverpool.
“From my point of view, I would like all three of them to renew their contracts, but I don't know. They haven't told me.”
Klopp joked when asked about the possibility of the trio joining Red Bull's club network in the future, referring to criticism of right-back Alexander-Arnold's defence.
The German said: “Oh yes, Virgil, I'm pretty sure he would now like to play another five years at Liverpool and then between the ages of 41 and 44 at New York Red Bulls, because he probably underestimates American football. But openly poor, no.” problem.
“Mo, yes, I would like that, honestly I don't think we have the chance to pay him.
“And then Trent, yeah, and he finally got to learn how to defend, right? I can't believe you're all still discussing this, it's so bad and I'm really glad I'm not a part of it.
“I watched the press conference when he (Klopp's successor Arne Slot) had to talk about it, and you think 'oh my God, they still don't understand'!
“And yes, he didn't play well against Manchester United (the 2-2 draw at Anfield on January 5), but if you make such a fuss about him when he plays well, the same way you make such a fuss about him when he doesn't If it doesn't play well, that would be a really cool planet.”
Klopp is in touch with his former players and enjoys watching Arne Slot's side top the Premier League and Champions League tables.
He has no regrets about leaving Anfield, but joked that he might return for a celebration if Manchester City were stripped of all the league titles following the outcome of their hearing into 115 charges of breaching financial regulations.
The German added: “Whatever we have to celebrate we would do it, nice weather, things like this, we would have our own parade in my garden. We'll see. I didn't follow it at all. Let's see.”