Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Nat Phillips' and Neco Williams' Liverpool stories 'are not over' after the duo departed on loan last month.
Both defenders joined Championships clubs on loan for the remainder of the season in search of more regular game time.
Phillips has joined Bournemouth while Williams made a last-minute move to league leaders Fulham.
They've made a total of 12 appearances between them in all competitions so far this season, significantly less than 34 they made last term.
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Reflecting upon the club's January transfer business, Klopp admitted the pair's Liverpool careers are 'merely on pause', suggesting their long-term futures lie at Anfield.
“We also saw a couple of players leave, albeit on loan," he wrote in his programme notes.
"Nat Phillips and Neco Williams will be battling for promotion from the Championship between now and May. Magnificent opportunity for both. And both Bournemouth and Fulham are very fortunate to get these two outstanding young men.
“Their Liverpool stories are not over – they are merely on pause – so I don’t want my words to feel like a farewell. But both these players have made a massive contribution to our club in recent seasons.
"The way they were day to day made us better collectively. When they played they produced the goods. I couldn’t be more grateful towards them both and I hope they show all their talent and quality in the coming days, weeks and months.
“When I looked at the Championship table I noticed they are pretty close together at the top. Fingers crossed both Nat and Neco will be celebrating promotion come May. They are two boys who deserve success.”
Understandably, their game time has been significantly reduced this season given the competition within the squad.
With the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate to contend with, the pair now have the opportunity to impress elsewhere before they return to Merseyside in the summer.
