BEHAVE JURSELF
Klopp will keep calm to avoid spoiling send-off
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 card away from being sent to the stands and with one game to go after their clash with 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.
Klopp said: “By the way, we could turn it around and say I only got two yellow cards, some of my colleagues got suspended, right? Hmm.
“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.
The £85m signing from Benfica missed another great chance in the 4-2 win over Tottenham last weekend which frustrated supporters.
But Klopp said: “There is no speculation. 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 right now. We try to help him.
“If he was less good, he would not have chances.”
■ JULIAN WARD has returned to Liverpool’s ownership group just 12 months after quitting the club.
He has been named as the technical director at Fenway Sports Group.