Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp explains when he tells players starting line ups
Jurgen Klopp prefers to give his Liverpool players time to prepare for matches.
Liverpool: Klopp discusses his relationship with his players
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has shed light on when he tells players the starting line up for matches. The German likes to give his stars plenty of time to get in the zone ahead of any contest, as opposed to springing it on them closer to the game.
Klopp has always been big on organisation and planning and likes to deal with his players in an efficient and clear manner.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was keen to get some insight from Klopp during an exclusive interview on Sky Sports' Football Show.
The Reds boss is a closed book when it comes to what goes on behind the scenes in the Liverpool camp, but he was happy to explain how he goes about team selections.
"The players know usually a day before the game, maybe even two days before a game if they play or not," Klopp said.
JUST IN: Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards plotting £88m double deal which affects Man Utd
"I never did it that I made the line up in the hotel and they think 'oh interesting, I play.'
"I want them to prepare for it and all that stuff, but I treat them individually.
"That means if a player who plays the last 20 games isn't playing the next game, that's not a big problem but I still tell them.
"Normal rotation where we have three games in a week where I change the frontline or in midfield where we change quite a lot, I don't explain or I explain it once before the season or in a specific period and then it's clear.
"I have to judge the situation always in the moment."
DON'T MISS
Timo Werner would have shirt number preference if Liverpool transfer sealed
Liverpool star discussed inside Inter Milan boardroom as £26m transfer offer readied
Liverpool are about to do something unorthodox in Timo Werner transfer chase
Liverpool chief Michael Edwards already signed Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino replacement
Klopp is happy to accept the wrath from players who do not agree with his teams, but there is a time and a place for any dialect.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss has explained how Gini Wijnaldum was left frustrated at his omission against Barcelona, before he eventually came on to score twice to help book Liverpool's place in Madrid.
"We have situations in the Champions League semi-final second-leg when I realised after the game because every told me that Gini Wijnaldum was really angry that he didn't start," he added.
"I didn't see it in training which is the most important thing.
"I tell the boys you don't have to be happy with my decisions, you only have to accept them."
Klopp does not want distractions before the game and has told players they must stomach his decisions with the team at the forefront of their minds.
Beyond that, he is happy to invite them into his office to clear things up.
"After the game we can speak about it, that's no problem," Klopp said. "Before the game, we cannot.
"So when I make a decision on the training ground and the player looks at me and thinks 'what idea is that?
"Or 'why do I not play?', that just shows that a player doesn't understand our situation.
"The next game is the most important, if you are in a session and you are not happy and I feel that but you train well, come after the game in my office, Monday morning the door is open and we can talk about it, if there is something to explain.
"If you think I'm the friend of the player come the match day I am the friend of exactly eleven players, all the others have some points or some things to criticise."