Monday 27 February 2017 19:06, UK
Jurgen Klopp does not believe Leicester players were responsible for the decision to sack Claudio Ranieri and downplayed the notion of "player power".
The German takes his Liverpool side to the King Power Stadium on Monday Night Football in the Foxes' first match since they parted company with Premier League title-winning manager Ranieri on Thursday.
Kasper Schmeichel has denied club owners asked senior players for their take on the Italian, while Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton have also hit out at suggestions they played a part in Ranieri's dismissal and Klopp says the concept of players being all powerful within clubs is often exaggerated.
"Players are not more powerful. We were much more powerful in the past," Klopp said.
"It depends always on the board. As long as the players talk together there is no problem. It is not about how powerful [the players are].
"The players need to be powerful but not in sacking managers. It's not like the Leicester players did it. It is if someone asked, they gave an answer.
"If there is a direct way to the board the owners sit with the players and ask 'how are you?' and they say 'not too good because of the manager'. I have never had this situation. There was never a direct line to the owner. But I know it has happened."
As for his own squad, Klopp said the relationship between him and his players was one filled with mutual trust and respect.
"I don't have a second of doubt about my relationship with the team," he said. "I know what they want, they know what I want. Nobody expects perfection. I don't expect it from them and they don't from me. It is all full of respect."
