THE BEST REVENGE WOULD BE A COOL HEAD AND PLAYING PROPER FOOTBALL

LIVERPOOL clearly still harbour anger and resentment about the brutality of last season’s Goodison derby.

But for boss Jurgen Klopp, the message to his side is simple – revenge is not the way but playing “football properly”, even in the emotional heat of the occasion, is the best and only answer.

The clash 13 months ago started the slide which destroyed not only Virgil van Dijk’s season, and the start to Thiago’s life in England, but ultimately, the Reds’ chase for honours. Klopp’s calm belied the fact he passionately feels both Everton No.1 Jordan Pickford and Richarlison should have been disciplined further for the wild challenges (left) which caused both injuries. Thiago was KO’D for three months, after what was his full debut for the Reds, by a brutal challenge from the red-carded Brazilian.

Pickford did not even get that, for an ‘out-of-control’ challenge which severely damaged key defender Van Dijk’s cruciate ligament in his right knee and ended his season.

Klopp added: “We are human beings so it is probably difficult to forget and ignore something like that – it is a situation which should not happen in football.

“But it was a situation that can always happen in football. It should have been dealt with differently, but that’s not important any more. We have to accept it can happen and deal with these things.”

The Anfield chief tried to play down the heat of the derby, by insisting the answer is to keep cool heads and play a brand of football that can punish out-of-form Everton.

He said: “It was long ago, and a cool head is always important in football. We play football properly and we will need a cool head to do that.

“We are still an emotional team but you have to use emotion in the right way.”

Not that Rafa Benitez is ready to take the heat out of the situation.

The Everton manager insisted his side will show aggression as the best way to get out of their alarming slump of just one win in 10 games.

He said: “Every player has to show more character and aggression and achieve results to make the fans happy. We will do what we have to do to get three points.

“We have to show commitment and play with intensity. When you have a bad run you need character, personality and physicality.”

Klopp has no doubts Van Dijk will not have a problem handling that physicality.

“Virgil is very experienced and has always dealt with these situations where he has to be completely free of anything he could have in his mind,” insisted Klopp.