Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he cannot explain Chelsea's unprecedented "impressive" spending.
The Blues have spent over €450million since the consortium headed by billionaire Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over in the summer, with €159m of that outlay coming in the last 15 days with potentially more expected before the end of the month.
That is a lot more than Liverpool, who after buying Benfica forward Darwin Nunez for an initial €73m - which could rise to a club-record €97m with add-ons - and youngsters Fabio Carvalho (from Fulham for €5.7m) and Calvin Ramsay (from Aberdeen for €7.4m), have added €43m PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo as their likely only January transfer.
On whether Chelsea's spending made the challenge for the Premier League top four more difficult Klopp, who celebrates his 1,000th match as a manager on Saturday, said: "Maybe. It may get probably even worse or better, I don't know exactly how you want to say it.
"Interesting (the spending). I cannot explain it, I have no idea. But if the numbers are true then it's impressive."
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group put the club up for sale late last year but appear to be now deviating away from that and looking for additional investors to buy a part share.
But that means Klopp's next tranche of transfer money, which the American-based group has always tried to manage responsibly, is likely to be available in the summer as the club chase Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Asked whether Chelsea's spending was a concern, Klopp added: "I don't think Chelsea can do this in the same manner for the next 10 years - I don't know, maybe they can.
"Other teams will have ups and downs and we just have to be there. I can't see investment stopping in the future and that means we have to do it as well.
"We don't talk about now because it's always slightly different, but in general. I believe in coaching, I believe in developing, I believe in team-building and using those things 100 per cent.
"Meanwhile there are so many good managers out there it's crazy so they believe in that as well - and if they start really properly spending and do those things as well, then you cannot not spend or you will have a little bit of a problem.
Klopp heads into his 1000th game as a coach, insisting there is a way out of his side's recent troubles but they will need to defend better.
Liverpool were expected to be champions Manchester City's main title rivals again this season, but the Reds have endured a miserable term thus far.
Their dismal display in last weekend's 3-0 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion meant Liverpool lost back-to-back league games for a second time this season and have suffered six defeats overall, three times as many as in the entirety of 2021-22.
Klopp, however, is not giving up on the season just yet.
"Most of the time it has gone in the right direction for me and what you learn from that is you solve football problems with football solutions and there is always a way out," he told a news conference on Friday.
"For me it's the best job in the world. Not a relaxing job or lots of holiday.
"We need consistency in a good way. We have to defend at a high level which we haven't done often enough, and based on that we can create chances. It's intense and will never be different. We have to show we are ready for that all the time."
Klopp also took time to reflect on his coaching career, which has spanned 23 seasons at three clubs in two countries. He has won three league titles and a Champions League trophy on the way.
"I feel blessed," Klopp added. "I have three fantastic clubs which gave me the opportunity to work. I learnt a lot but I wouldn't know the most important thing I have learnt. When you come in somewhere, you never know how it'll go. I've been really lucky.
"Twenty-two years ago when I became a manager, no smartphones, so much less information. I analysed games on DVDs. When you wanted to know outside world thoughts, you'd ask or read a newspaper. Easy to avoid (criticism). I am interested in opinions but from people who really care.
"Now we come back to social media - oh my God! Everyone with no expertise has opinions. Back in the day you'd write a letter to the newspaper and they had to print it. Best advice from 55-year-old perspective? Ignore the outside world."
Chelsea's big-money signing Mykhailo Mudryk could make his debut at Liverpool on Saturday but coach Graham Potter has warned expectant supporters that the new arrival needs time to adapt.
Ukraine winger Mudryk, 22, became Chelsea's fifth signing of the January transfer window on Sunday after moving from Shakhtar Donetsk to the west London side who are struggling for form after winning two of their previous 10 Premier League games.
Potter welcomed the addition of such a talented player but warned supporters not to expect too much, too soon.
"He is a young and exciting player, we have to help him adapt to us and the Premier League. He hasn't played so much football recently but has been training well, so we will have to assess him," Potter told a news conference on Friday.
"There's a chance (he could make his debut at Anfield). There is probably a role for him at some stage in the game. We've got to help him and everybody understand that he is coming from a different country and league and has to adapt.
"He is a young player who has a lot of potential and at the same time he has had good experiences already and he is an exciting player. He is looking forward to his career here and is excited to get started."
