Jurgen Klopp considers further Liverpool recalls following Sheyi Ojo and Tiago Ilori returns

Liverpool's younger players look more likely to remain in the U21 side rather than embark upon any more temporary exits in future after Jurgen Klopp revealed his thoughts on the current loan situation at Anfield.

The premature return of winger Sheyi Ojo from his season-long stint in the Championship with Wolves was officially confirmed earlier on 7 January, while Ryan Kent has been recalled from Coventry.

Defender Tiago Ilori is also set to leave Aston Villa after failing to make a single appearance formerly under Tim Sherwood and now with Remi Garde in charge this season, and all three players could possibly be set to feature during the FA Cup third-round clash against Exeter at St James Park on 8 January.

Provided he can be registered in time, Ilori seems most likely to play some role in Devon as Liverpool contend with a fully fledged defensive crisis that has seen Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure added to a lengthy injury list that includes fellow centre-backs Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho in addition to other key-first team players such as Daniel Sturridge and captain Jordan Henderson.

Justifying those aforementioned loan recalls during his pre-match press conference, Klopp was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo: "We take back our own players. Especially if they are not in the perfect situation at clubs where they are on loan.

"These are our players. We will speak about this next summer, in my opinion best talents should be at your own club and play together in the U21s as a team. It's a big chance. But no pressure because they are still young. If they do well they can make the next step but if not they have time."

Discounting Ojo, Kent and Ilori, Liverpool have 13 other players currently out on loan. Primarily comprised of youngsters like La Masia graduate Sergi Canos, that list also includes former first-team players such as Mario Balotelli and Lazar Markovic as well as Marko Grujic, Klopp's first signing who joined in a £5.1m ($7.4m) deal on 6 January before being sent back to former club Red Star Belgrade for the rest of the season.

While a number of those players are likely benefiting from increased exposure to first-team football, Klopp did not rule out the possibility of instigating further returns. He said: "It's possible [I could bring others back from loan spells] but at this moment I'm not sure."