Jurgen Klopp has warned that he is prepared to drop any players in his Liverpool squad should they become complacent.
The Reds are currently enjoying an impressive campaign and sit second in the Premier League table, just one point off leaders Chelsea, while they have scored more goals than any other side in the division.
While Liverpool -- who were in top spot before Chelsea capitalised on their 0-0 draw at Southampton at the weekend -- have been talked up as title challengers, Klopp is determined to keep his players' feet on the ground.
"Do not think too much about [the title], that will help," he is quoted as saying in The Guardian. "We are here [at Melwood] four or five hours a day, sometimes longer, never less.
"They still have a few more hours in the day to be influenced by people around them. If somebody is a character and wants to celebrate position one in November then he will not play in December anymore because I see it pretty quick.
"But these things usually don't happen. The players are here in this situation because their character is really good. It is a long way to get here. It is not like they are surprised about success whether it is individual or as a team.
"They had successes of being the best player at Southampton, Schalke or other teams. This is success but if you then celebrate this and don't be professional anymore then you have a problem."
But while Klopp has stressed his squad must avoid complacency, the German trusts them to act professionally.
"It is not too difficult. Nothing has happened until now," Klopp said. "It is better to be one time in first place than never in your life but it is not really important in this moment. There is nothing to think about.
"If I went to the players and said: 'Don't think we are first' or 'We are first but nothing has been reached,' they would think I'm silly because they know this already. Stay cool, play football and see what happens."