STROP THE LIGHTS
Klopp walking card tightrope Haaling rubbishes Roy’s brat rant
JURGEN KLOPP insists he will be on his best behaviour at Villa Park on Monday to avoid a touchline ban for his Anfield farewell.
The Liverpool boss is one yellow away from being sent to the stands – and with one game to go after Aston Villa – that would mean sitting in the crowd for his final game as Reds manager.
Liverpool host Wolves next Sunday in what will be an emotional farewell for Klopp after nine years at the club.
The German coach was shown a card at Luton early in the campaign and at home to Burnley in February. If ref Simon Hooper brandishes another, it would have huge ramifications.
“By the way, we could turn it around and say I only got two yellow cards, some of my colleagues got suspended, right?” mused Klopp.
Calmer
“I got calmer over the years, obviously. I don’t need to (be on the touchline) but it would be cool that I could do that.
“It will not be from my side. I will try absolutely everything to try to not get involved in any kind of discussions.”
Liverpool are not mathematically out of the title race but would need Manchester City and Arsenal to suffer almighty collapses.
The focus is now on bidding farewell to Klopp and there will be a chance for Darwin Nunez to rediscover form.
The Uruguayan has been linked with a move after he deleted all his Liverpool pictures on Instagram.
Nunez (24) has scored 18 goals this season and created 13 but his misses have been costly. He missed another great chance in the 4-2 win over Tottenham last weekend which frustrated supporters.
“There is no speculation,” added Klopp. “It must be external because I don’t know about this.
“He is unlucky, let me say was, he was unlucky in so many situations where he is doing everything right.
“That’s really tough for a young man. He has big expectations on himself.
“There is no alternative than going through it, that’s what he’s doing now. We try to help him.
“If he was less good, he would not have chances.”
Meanwhile, Unai
Emery will hold a roll call with Aston Villa’s injured players before deciding on his plan of attack against Liverpool.
Villa’s boss left Greece with a furrowed brow as his resources were further stretched in their Europa Conference League semi-final defeat to Olympiakos.
Limped
Leon Bailey limped through the second leg and his leg was heavily bandaged as he boarded the coach. Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey are out for the season – and Morgan Rogers could join them. “Each day is going to be very important because some players have small injuries, some have pain,” said Emery. “Nicolo Zaniolo is close but until he is feeling comfortable he’s not available to play.
“Youri Tielemans is close. Alex Moreno is not a big injury.”
Julian Ward has returned to Liverpool’s ownership group just 12 months after quitting the club. He has been named as technical director at Fenway Sports.