Klopp confirms Sakho sent home for breaking club rules

Klopp explained that Sakho had been late for the flight to America, had missed a session and had also been late for a meal, but played down the suggestions that his future at the club could be in doubt.

"I thought maybe it made sense for him to fly home to Liverpool and after eight or 10 days when we come back we can talk about it," the Liverpool Echo report Klopp as saying. "It's not that serious. He nearly missed the departure of the plane, he missed a session and was late for a meal. We have some rules and we have to respect them. If somebody doesn't respect it or somebody gives me the feeling he is not respecting it then I have to react, that's all."

The 26-year-old France international has not played in any of Liverpool's friendlies because he is nursing an Achilles problem that will prevent him starting the new Premier League campaign.

However, he was included in the squad that travelled to Palo Alto in California last week, although has been since been ordered to return to the club's Melwood training ground to continue his rehabilitation from his injury.

Sakho has endured a somewhat turbulent last three months after failing a drugs test back in April - meaning he missed the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla and Euro 2016 because of an interim suspension - only for UEFA to drop the case after deciding the fat-burning substance he took should not be included on their banned list.