Jurgen Klopp tells Christian Benteke to leave Liverpool - and warns 5 others they won't play if they stay

 Jurgen Klopp has warned Christian Benteke and Liverpool's other outcasts: stay and you won't play.
Klopp wants a leaner squad for the new campaign after using 39 players during Liverpool's 63 matches last season.
The Reds do not have European football and Klopp has told his fringe players they are highly unlikely to figure.

The Liverpool boss has advised them to leave and in addition to Benteke, wants to move out Lucas, Adam Bogdan, Tiago Ilori, Mario Balotelli and Lazar Markovic.
"A few things will happen, I'm pretty sure," said the German. "I don't know exactly what but on both sides.

Getty

Time to go: Klopp says the likes of Benteke should leave

Liverpool FC via Getty

Exit: Balotelli is also set to depart

"It makes no sense to stay in the squad and be in the squad when you don't have a real opportunity to play.
"When there's no chance to play, it makes absolutely no sense.
"We have a few players, maybe, who want to leave us and I'm pretty sure that will happen. And one or two more players will join us from other clubs.

On your Marks: Lazar Markovic is another set to leave

Benteke's departure is on hold because Liverpool could not agree a fee with Crystal Palace , who offered £25million for the Belgium international.

Action Images via Reuters

New blood: Sadio Mane's arrival has sent Benteke down the pecking order

Sadio Mane's arrival has demoted Benteke to fifth in the forwards' pecking order and Klopp sees no point keeping players who will not play.
Klopp is using this transfer window to put his stamp on the squad and is continuing his overhaul by bringing in Ragnar Klavan from Augsburg in an initial £4million deal.



He feels Klavan will add experience to his backline and the Estonia centre-half is due at Melwood tomorrow to have his medical.
Danny Ings must feel like another new signing for Klopp because the striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury days after he was appointed boss in October, sidelining him until the final day of last season.

 

Action Images via Reuters

 

Ings netted the first goal against Wigan on Sunday

Ings has scored twice in Liverpool's three pre-season friendlies and says he studied Klopp's methods from the sidelines to ensure he hit the ground running this summer.
"The training is very intense, very tactical and we're learning every day," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"I'm playing catch-up really because I obviously didn't get to train with the manager and the other staff, and get to see the methods.
"What I did do was watch from the sidelines and try to pick up as much as I could. I'm just trying to put that into games now.
"My biggest aim is to get fit and get to how I was before I got injured."