Jurgen Klopp threatens to drop Liverpool players who show complacency: ‘Stay cool, play football’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gestures after the final whistle in the English Premier League match against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, Saturday November 19, 2016. Nick PotShow more

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will drop any player he feels is showing signs of complacency in the side's assault on the Premier League title but the German remains confident that none of his squad are taking anything for granted.

Liverpool are searching for a first league crown since 1990 and are well-placed to launch a serious bid for the title as they sit second in the standings on 27 points from 12 games, a point behind Chelsea, who replaced them at the top last weekend.

“If somebody is a character and wants to celebrate position one in November then he will not play in December anymore because I see it pretty quick,” Klopp said.

“But these things usually don’t happen. The players are here in this situation because their character is really good. It is a long way to get here. It is not like they are surprised about success whether it is individual or as a team.

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“This is success but if you then celebrate this and don’t be professional anymore then you have a problem.”

Klopp, however, said he has yet to see any sort of complacency from his squad this season.

“It is not too difficult. Nothing has happened until now. It is better to be one time in first place than never in your life but it is not really important in this moment. There is nothing to think about,” he added.

“If I went to the players and said ‘Don’t think we are first’ or ‘We are first but nothing has been reached’ they would think I’m silly because they know this already.

“Stay cool, play football and see what happens.”

Liverpool host second-bottom Sunderland at Anfield on Saturday.

Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater has been charged with violent conduct by the English Football Association after appearing to elbow Watford's Valon Behrami in last Saturday's 2-1 away defeat.

“Danny Drinkwater has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video,” the FA said.

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Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yueng is set to miss their next two league matches with a toe injury which will keep him out for about two weeks, the Welsh club said yesterday.

Ki has featured in all five of the club’s league games since Bob Bradley replaced Francesco Guidolin as manager.

* Reuters

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