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Jurgen Klopp has saved Christmas for Liverpool’s players.

The Reds boss found out that his squad had cancelled their Christmas party for the third successive year because of their busy fixture schedule.

However the German didn’t want Anfield’s stars to miss out on the festive fun so he has invited them and their partners to join him on a special Christmas lunch usually reserved for the manager and his coaching staff.

A club insider told the Sunday Mirror: “The players decided that they would have to cancel their Christmas party for the third season in a row because of the schedule.

“They usually postpone it until the New Year – but we have a minimum of seven games in January, so that idea was also abandoned.

“Jurgen heard one of the players saying he had never been to a Christmas party in March before – and he decided he didn’t want them missing out.

“The manager of ­Liverpool traditionally hosts a lunch for his backroom team and the club’s staff.

“Jurgen was insistent that this time the players should be invited – along with their wives and partners.

“It’s only a small gesture, but it is one that has really been appreciated by the players and their families.”

Liverpool’s players will now join Klopp for the turkey dinner with all the trimmings at a restaurant in Southport on one of the days following the trip to Watford on December 20.

Klopp is accustomed to spending Christmas with his family because the Bundesliga has a winter break.

But he has previous form for getting his players into the spirit of things.

Last year, with his Borussia Dortmund team just a point off the bottom of the table, he threw a party for his players .

Dortmund’s last game before the winter break was a 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen – their 10th loss in 17 games.

But when the players switched on their mobile phones on the coach journey home, there was a message from their coach inviting them all to a party.

“Don’t think for a second this is optional,” read the message. “Everyone comes, no exceptions.”

On their return, Klopp’s men were buoyant and embarked on a run that lifted them to a seventh-place finish.