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Jurgen Klopp says the intensity of Premier League football has convinced him to give his table-topping Liverpool squad a deserved break.

Those players not away on international duty have been granted some time off in the wake of Sunday's 6-1 thrashing of Watford.

The likes of Loris Karius, Joel Matip, James Milner, Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Lucas Leiva and Alberto Moreno won't report back for duty at Melwood until the end of this week.

Klopp is planning a behind closed doors friendly – in which Joe Gomez is pencilled in to make his comeback after a year out – before the focus turns to the trip to Southampton on November 19.

The Liverpool boss has placed much greater demands on the players since he took over last year.

Initially, he significantly reduced the number of days off they get but over time he has come to appreciate the value of giving them a breather when the calendar allows.

Klopp said: “I don't need a break but we won't have a lot of players here.

“When I came here the players had a few days off. I changed it and said: ‘How can they have three or four days off or something?'

“It was a silly decision. It’s only because I was not used to it. Now we are proper English coaches, we know about the fixtures, the intensity of the next few months.

“Each possibility for a little break, you have to use. That's what we have to do.

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“They still have a programme – to train and stay fit. Not all of them can go wherever they want because if you’re a bit injured you have to be here.

“But a real training session does not make sense with five or six players. A few days off and then we'll start again.

“We will try to have a game behind closed doors. The result of that won't be important but it's an opportunity for us to give players match time.

“From Sunday or Monday onwards, when the international players start to come back, we will prepare for the next game.”

Liverpool have 12 senior players away on international duty.

Brazilian duo Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have flown to South America for crunch clashes with Argentina and Peru, while Sadio Mane will be in action for Senegal against South Africa.