Klopp relishing 'loud and wild' Merseyside derby showdown

Jurgen Klopp expects his Liverpool side to deliver a performance every bit as "loud and wild" as the Everton fans will be on Sunday.

Published : Mar 01, 2019 21:35 IST

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants his players to embrace the hostile atmosphere at Goodison Park.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants his players to embrace the hostile atmosphere at Goodison Park.
lightbox-info

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants his players to embrace the hostile atmosphere at Goodison Park.

Jurgen Klopp has challenged his Liverpool players to embrace the hostile atmosphere that will await them at Goodison Park on Sunday.

The Reds go into the Merseyside derby with a one-point lead over Manchester City at the Premier League summit and face an Everton side seeking revenge, after Divock Origi's last-gasp goal secured all three points for Klopp's men in December's reverse fixture.

Everton is winless in 18 matches against Liverpool in all competitions – its longest ever slump against its local rival – and Klopp wants his players to replicate the intensity that awaits them in the stands.

"Football players like that [a hostile atmosphere]," he told a media conference.

"Of course, the fans of Everton don't want us to win anything and for our fans it's the same [feeling towards Everton].

"I hope the game will be very emotional and passionate. That's how football should be.

"Let's go there and use the atmosphere because, of course, it will be loud and wild – we have to deliver that on the pitch as well."

RELATED | Robertson backs world's best Van Dijk for PFA Player of the Year

Premier League meetings between the two sides have produced more red cards than any other fixture in the history of the competition, but Klopp is confident his players will not let their emotions spill over.

"We always want to be very aggressive in the best football way," he explained.

"We are ready to hurt ourselves and not the other guy. The crowd wants to win and the best way to do that is to keep 11 players on the pitch.

"There have been a few situations in the past where the red cards have been a factor but not recently."

firmino-croppedu2d1xx3nqqad1cjt2e60w0910jpg
Roberto Firmino was by replaced by Daniel Sturridge during Liverpool's 0-0 draws against Manchester United.
 

Klopp admitted that he does not know whether Roberto Firmino will be fit enough to feature against the Toffees after missing Wednesday's 5-0 thumping of Watford with an ankle injury.

The Brazil forward has returned to training but, should he fail to recover in time, Klopp will have no hesitation in playing Sadio Mane in the central striking position again after his double against the Hornets.

"Sadio is coming to an age where things are becoming more natural for him," Klopp said of the 26-year-old. "He's not having to convince people now.

"We all know that he's a world class player and he has started realising that for himself. Mix it up with his attitude and his work rate, it can be a really decent career – even better than it was up to now.

RELATED | Number nine is fine for Liverpool star Mane

"He has scored a lot of goals for us and, if not, then he was always a proper threat, who gave us the space to score from another area.

"He's in a good moment of his career and he's in the best age group now, which they all are. Now he should continue and develop in the next few years, because there is still a lot to come from these boys."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment