Ian Ayre defends Liverpool's transfer strategy

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has insisted that the club will "always compete" to bring in new players to Anfield, despite their lack of spending this month.

The Reds are yet to acquire a new signing in the winter window and missed out on Basel winger Mohamed Salah, who opted for a move to Chelsea for a reported £11m fee.

"We haven't been held back from completing a deal, the player (Salah) has decided he doesn't want to come to Liverpool," the Liverpool Echo quotes Ayre as saying. "We will always compete and know the value of a player and how far we are prepared to go.

"That is something myself, Brendan and others involved in that discuss regularly. We won't over pay but when the right player is available and wants to be at Liverpool they will be here and our success previously shows that.

"There is no one not here because we didn't do what we needed to do. There has been no lack of ambition or effort on our part. We will win some and lose some, that is the case in every transfer window."

Liverpool face a crucial test in the Premier League against Merseyside rivals Everton at Anfield this evening.