One Direction stars bonded over break-ups

The stars of One Direction bonded over the break-ups they endured while working on their new album.

The band has been rocked by relationship drama over the last few months as Louis Tomlinson parted ways with his longtime partner Eleanor Calder, and later found out he is expecting a child with stylist Briana Jungwirth after a brief fling.

Liam Payne also split from his girlfriend Sophia Smith last month (Oct15), and the singer admits many of those who worked on new record Made in the A.M. suffered similar problems.

"A few of us have gone through break-ups as this album was being written, right down to the people we write with," Liam tells Australia's Sydney Daily Telegraph.

Liam goes on to reveal he struggled to maintain his relationship while spending such long periods away from home.

"It is really difficult to make a great bond with somebody when you are so far away a lot of the time," he adds. "To be honest, I don't know what sort of lifestyle I am used to. You like being at home but you like being away and when you are at home, you are thinking about going away and when you are away, you want to be home.

"Relationships are hard regardless and putting the band on top of it adds a whole new weight that you would never expect. It is a very strange circumstance in which to try to devote yourself to somebody when you barely have time for yourself."

Former member Zayn Malik, who left the band in March (15), also went through a nasty break-up as he parted ways with his fiancee, Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, shortly after leaving the band.

Liam goes on to reveal one of the songs on the band's new album is about love splits, but there are no tracks detailing Zayn's departure.

"(Love You Goodbye)... might just be the saddest breakup song ever. But that's good, right?" he explains. "The album is all about this time we have had together really. I don't think there is a song specifically about Zayn. This band was bigger than any one person in it.

"This album is meant to be about the fact we could carry on, we could keep this going, rather than writing about things like (Zayn leaving). We're not those kind of guys, I guess."

Liam also shrugs off suggestions One Direction are rooting for their new album to top the charts in the U.S. so they can beat pop rival Justin Bieber to the top of the charts.

Justin released his new album, Purpose, on the same day, but Liam is adamant the stars just want to claim their fifth number one in America so they can break another world record.

"This one is a hugely important one for us and it's not about Bieber," he explains. "I understand he is a huge artist to be up against but we could be up against anybody. He does his own thing really and that has nothing to do with us wanting to make this happen, to get that Guinness World Record."

One Direction already hold a world record for having four consecutive albums debut at the top of the Billboard charts, and they will land another certificate if Made in the A.M. proves to be another chart-topper.