Jurgen Klopp warns his Liverpool stars not to get carried away with Premier League title talk after their flying start
Reds boss insists he is not 'thinking too much' about ending the Kop's quest for glory
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JURGEN KLOPP is warning his Liverpool stars: Anyone who gets carried away by our flying start will be watching from the stands.
Anfield boss Klopp got soaked by Storm Angus seeing his side draw 0-0 at Southampton at the weekend.
But that still left them second in the table on 27 points — ten more than at this stage a year ago — with a league- high 30 goals.
Kop fans are daring to dream of a first Prem title.
But the German — a two-time Bundesliga winner in his Borussia Dortmund days — reckons the best way to help a title challenge is to not give it a second’s thought.
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He added: “Not thinking too much about it — that will help.
“We are here four or five hours a day, so they still have a few hours to be influenced. And if somebody wants to celebrate being position one or whatever in November, then he will not play in December because I see it pretty quick.”
Not that Klopp expects to haul too many of his senior stars out of the firing line.
The major factor behind Liverpool’s transformation has been how everyone has bought into his ideals and approach.
Klopp admitted: “The players are in this situation be- cause their character is really good — and it has been a long way to get here.
“It is not like they are surprised about success, whether it is individual or as a team.
“They had successes of being the best player at Southampton, Schalke or other teams.
“This is success but if you then celebrate and aren’t professional any more, then you have a problem.
“Of course it is better to be top once rather than never in your life — but it is not really important in this moment.
“Just stay cool, play football and see what happens.”
Klopp is tipped to spend big in January to keep the Reds on the rails.
But his only pressing need is for a wideman as cover for Sadio Mane, who will be off to the African Nations Cup with Senegal.
His pre-season problem slot at left-back has been anything but, thanks to James Milner.
And the one-time winger admits his own personal challenge is to make sure Klopp does not feel he has to bring in anyone to take the role.
Milner said: “He is manager, and he picks the best team.
“It is my job to make sure that what is best for Liverpool is me and they don’t buy a left-back!”