Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: I won't waste my time on lost causes... I like to be players' friends but not their best friend

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Jurgen Klopp's first meeting with Liverpool owner John W Henry since landing the Anfield job won't go down in the annals of history.

'A pretty short discussion,' is how the German described their get-together on Friday morning before Henry watched his fourth manager in five years take training.

Not that Klopp is complaining. Having spent seven years apiece at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, he is only interested in long-term projects and expects to be left alone to do the job required at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp is hoping results at Liverpool will dictate that meetings with the owners will be sporadic

John W Henry (far left) and Tom Werner (middle) watched Liverpool's players train on Friday at Melwood

He doesn't see the point in regular inquests or love-ins with Henry and expects at least 12 months autonomy to lay down his footballing philosophy while the Fenway Sports Group concentrate on redeveloping Anfield.

'I met them this morning. They only want that I solve the problems! It is always the same, the less contact we have, the better I think. Because (it means) everything is OK,' said Klopp.

'We don't have to stay in touch every day going over what has happened. I am the manager and the sports part of this club is my responsibility.

'We need to be successful at a club like Liverpool. What they want and I want is development and improvement. So it was a pretty short discussion about this.

'They think I am the right man so we don't have to discuss for the next four or five months, or next year, because now I am here. I am experienced and patient enough to work.'

Klopp was hired to replace Brendan Rodgers because he led Borussia Dortmund, a sleeping giant in Germany similar to Liverpool, to two Bundesliga titles.

Roberto Firmino and Kolo Toure challenge for the ball as Henry and Werner watch on during Liverpool training

Klopp (left) was joined by assistant manager Zeljko Buvac, referred to as 'The Brain' at Melwood on Friday

Despite his extrovert personality, it wasn't done on emotion alone and Klopp isn't distracted by disappointing draws against Spurs and Rubin Kazan after the big build-up of his arrival. Southampton are next up at Anfield on Sunday.

'I burn for results but after the game it is over, I can't change it any more so I analyse and prepare for the next training session and talk with the players,' he says. 'Nobody should be worried I am not going to be able to sleep. Now I am here, I am fully in the race.'

The one thing that Klopp radiates is energy, whether on the touchline or answering questions in press conferences. But behind the beaming smile, he has teeth and his players would do well to remember it.

'If a player is full of motivation, concentration, readiness and passion, I am not hard with them. I have open arms and maybe give a last kick,' he laughs.

'But if a player doesn't understand the professional part of his life, it is a little bit of a waste of time. I can help if they are very young of course, talk to them and give maybe one, two or three chances.

'But when they are older and have had five chances with other managers, then it is a waste of time. I love to be something like a friend of the player, but not their best friend.'

Klopp casts his eye over training on Friday ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Southampton

Klopp says he will not waste time on players that do not meet his high professional standards

Although he did not refer to any particular individual, you wouldn't take bets on Mario Balotelli waltzing back to Anfield after his season-long loan at AC Milan.

Philippe Coutinho, arguably Liverpool's most exciting and creative player when on-form, understands the dictum and pledges there won't be any Jose Mourinho/Eden Hazard-style friction between them despite the work ethic demanded.

'Pressing,' said the 23-year-old Brazilian immediately when asked what Klopp's over-riding message has been in his first nine days at the club.

'He wants us pressing when we don’t have the ball and to play quickly when we do have it. Of course, I’ll do what the manager wants because I want to give everything to play well and help the team.

Klopp says he will wants to help the club's young players and will give them 'one, two or three' chances

Philippe Coutinho says the over-riding message from the new manager has been to press the opponents

'We don’t need to tackle, we need to press, and then play with the ball. We can hear him shouting at us on the pitch.'

The initial target is to get that first win of the Klopp era against Ronald Koeman's Southampton who recently upset Chelsea at Stamford B ridge with fine counter-attacking play.

Klopp has already introduced one tactical shift, James Milner and Emre Can playing narrower to allow full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno to use the flanks. Building confidence and consistency are priorities.

'At this moment, I see a hard working team and in many situations a team with inspiration. But not over the whole 90 minutes,' added Klopp.

'That is what we have to try to do, to play with inspiration for longer. Maybe 85 minutes a game or something like this, then it will be better.'