Adam Lallana has revealed Jurgen Klopp told him he could look for another club in October 2019.
The Englishman left Liverpool on a free transfer last summer at the end of his contract after six years with the club.
Lallana had become a squad player for the Premier League champions due to the quality he added to the squad.
He joined Brighton & Hove Albion for the 2020/21 season and he has now revealed he was informed as early as October that the Reds wouldn't be renewing his deal, allowing him the opportunity to scout for the next move in his career.
"To give you a bit of an insight, I spoke to Jurgen (Klopp) in October of last year and just sat down and had an open conversation," Lallana told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We have a great relationship and I just said 'what's it looking like for me next year?'. I know I'm out of contract and I know I'm not playing regularly.
"Although I had a pretty big role in the squad around the team, I wanted a bit of honesty. He basically said to me in October, get your agent to start looking for another club.
"That doesn't mean you're not in my plans or he isn't going to use me. Four days later he brought me on at Old Trafford and I scored the equaliser and I think that shows what type of person Jurgen is. He's very honest.
"He said to me I deserve to be playing more and I deserve more game time and to be playing more. He couldn't offer that to me so from then I had his blessing the club's blessing to give my agent the go-ahead to speak to other clubs about next season, which is now this season."
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