Jurgen Klopp issues stern warning to Liverpool players

Jurgen Klopp has warned his top stars [COURTESY]

Jurgen Klopp has warned his top stars: “If you have a problem with being left out, you will have a problem with me.”

The Liverpool manager knows that for the first time since arriving at Anfield, competition for places is so fierce, that even some massive money signings will frequently find themselves axed from the matchday squad.

The German coach can now field two expensive teams of top-class internationals, and that leaves him with a selection headache at this stage of the season he can't solve.

The German coach can now field two expensive teams of top-class internationals [COURTESY]

But rather than moping or sulking and blaming the manager, Klopp explained, the players have to look at themselves, with first-team selection now based purely on what they deliver in training every day.

“Whatever happens on August 31, it is clear that is the squad for the next four months until January...but I cannot make people happy,” the manager warned.

“Who cannot be happy being part of the squad at Liverpool, I cannot help. What I can do is say everyone who trains on his highest level has a big chance to be an important part of the team, to stay in the team and all these things. That makes us happy.

“If someone has a problem with it, he will have a problem with me because he does not respect the situation.”

Klopp's biggest problem in the first part of the season will be to keep all of his players onside [COURTESY]

Klopp's biggest problem in the first part of the season will be to keep all of his players onside. On Monday night, for the visit to Palace, Klopp has the tough decision of who to leave out of the squad completely, and there could be high profile casualties.

The German manager though, has told his players they have to get used to the situation, at least until the period of two games a week kicks in. And he warned his squad the ultimate selection is decided by their own attitude.

“There are more difficult things in life than not being in a match squad for a day...there are much more difficult problems in the world,” he added bluntly.

“I see it like that and you always have a chance to change the situation when you are part of the squad. It is not about my decision.

“I made the last decision of yes or no (in the side). But before that, there are plenty of things that the players are responsible for. That is not a problem.

'The ideal size of the squad is 11 and no one injured. Then they are all happy - a little bit exhausted but all happy. If you have 12 then you already have one who asks, ‘why am I out?’ that is how it is.”

Klopp let Ragnar Klavan leave on Friday as he travelled to Italy for a medical with Cagliari, ahead of the closure of the Serie A transfer deadline.