Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has warned more fringe players could leave the club as he streamlines his squad.
Since taking over from Rafael Benitez, Hodgson has seen Albert Riera, Alberto Aquilani, Emiliano Insua and Diego Cavalieri among others leave the club.
And the 62-year-old said players who do not feature in the first team nor offer future promise could exit Anfield.
"We were unbelievably over-staffed when I came and, if the truth be known, we still are over-staffed," he said.
"It was just as big a job making sure some of the players who never feature for the first team move on and that we limit our squad to players who are either in the frame to play first-team football or who have a bright future who are still anxious to play academy and reserve team football.
"We don't want that middle group who are too old for reserve football but are not serving any purpose for the first team because they never feature."
Hodgson has made a number of high-profile signings since taking over in July, adding England internationals Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky, along with goalkeeper Brad Jones and Scottish defender Danny Wilson.
The former Fulham and Inter Milan boss has also signed Denmark's Christian Poulsen and Portugal international Raul Meireles.
There aren't many quality left-backs around in the world, never mind in England, so to find an English one who can go straight into the team without any adjustment problems is a big advantage
Roy Hodgson on Paul Konchesky
But Hodgson has balanced the new additions by presiding over the departures of Philipp Degen, Nabil El Zhar, Krisztian Nemeth and Damien Plessis, while midfielders Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun left the club despite the manager's intentions for both men to stay.
"We should be very happy. A lot of hard work has gone in and you have to mention Christian Purslow (managing director) and Eduardo Macia (chief scout)," said Hodgson.
"Both worked really hard during the transfer window to do the deals I wanted to happen but also to do deals for quite a few players to leave the club.
"It was important to sign a quality midfielder when we lost Javier.
"We had half-prepared for his departure by jumping in to sign Christian Poulsen when he became available, but it was important for us to keep strong in that area.
"We loaned out Alberto Aquilani and so we are pleased to have been able to bring in Meireles.
"He is experienced in the Champions League, in international football, has had proven success at Porto and is an all-round midfielder who is capable of playing in all three of the central midfield positions.
"He has a pedigree which we researched, followed and studied. I followed him at my previous club so it was good when I heard he could be available and that we could do the business quickly."
Hodgson said he was particularly delighted to sign full-back Konchesky, who forced Fulham to sell him once Liverpool made their approach.
"It was difficult because Fulham were anxious to keep him and were against letting him go," he added.
"Our good fortune was he was in the last year of his contract and he made it clear that if they didn't let him go he wouldn't sign a new contract.
"That was useful for us because otherwise it would have been very difficult to get him.
"There aren't many quality left-backs around in the world, never mind in England, so to find an English one who can go straight into the team without any adjustment problems is a big advantage.
"He is a player I know and have worked with and he knows the way we try to play and the things we try to do.
"That's another little advantage, but the main reason for bringing him here is because we think he's a good player and he's the right man for the job."
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Since taking over from Rafael Benitez, Hodgson has seen Albert Riera, Alberto Aquilani, Emiliano Insua and Diego Cavalieri among others leave the club.
And the 62-year-old said players who do not feature in the first team nor offer future promise could exit Anfield.
"We were unbelievably over-staffed when I came and, if the truth be known, we still are over-staffed," he said.
"It was just as big a job making sure some of the players who never feature for the first team move on and that we limit our squad to players who are either in the frame to play first-team football or who have a bright future who are still anxious to play academy and reserve team football.
"We don't want that middle group who are too old for reserve football but are not serving any purpose for the first team because they never feature."
Hodgson has made a number of high-profile signings since taking over in July, adding England internationals Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky, along with goalkeeper Brad Jones and Scottish defender Danny Wilson.
The former Fulham and Inter Milan boss has also signed Denmark's Christian Poulsen and Portugal international Raul Meireles.
There aren't many quality left-backs around in the world, never mind in England, so to find an English one who can go straight into the team without any adjustment problems is a big advantage
Roy Hodgson on Paul Konchesky
But Hodgson has balanced the new additions by presiding over the departures of Philipp Degen, Nabil El Zhar, Krisztian Nemeth and Damien Plessis, while midfielders Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun left the club despite the manager's intentions for both men to stay.
"We should be very happy. A lot of hard work has gone in and you have to mention Christian Purslow (managing director) and Eduardo Macia (chief scout)," said Hodgson.
"Both worked really hard during the transfer window to do the deals I wanted to happen but also to do deals for quite a few players to leave the club.
"It was important to sign a quality midfielder when we lost Javier.
"We had half-prepared for his departure by jumping in to sign Christian Poulsen when he became available, but it was important for us to keep strong in that area.
"We loaned out Alberto Aquilani and so we are pleased to have been able to bring in Meireles.
"He is experienced in the Champions League, in international football, has had proven success at Porto and is an all-round midfielder who is capable of playing in all three of the central midfield positions.
"He has a pedigree which we researched, followed and studied. I followed him at my previous club so it was good when I heard he could be available and that we could do the business quickly."
Hodgson said he was particularly delighted to sign full-back Konchesky, who forced Fulham to sell him once Liverpool made their approach.
"It was difficult because Fulham were anxious to keep him and were against letting him go," he added.
"Our good fortune was he was in the last year of his contract and he made it clear that if they didn't let him go he wouldn't sign a new contract.
"That was useful for us because otherwise it would have been very difficult to get him.
"There aren't many quality left-backs around in the world, never mind in England, so to find an English one who can go straight into the team without any adjustment problems is a big advantage.
"He is a player I know and have worked with and he knows the way we try to play and the things we try to do.
"That's another little advantage, but the main reason for bringing him here is because we think he's a good player and he's the right man for the job."
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Nice one, Nige.
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