Mixed emotions for Klopp on last visit to Villa

Jurgen Klopp has mixed feelings about Villa Park as he returns tonight for the final time as Liverpool manager.

The ground witnessed a crucial moment in their title-winning season when Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane scored in the final three minutes to snatch a 2-1 win in November 2018 which extended their unbeaten start to that campaign and felt hugely significant.

However, the following season they returned as champions and were thumped 7-2.

Asked about his memories of Villa Park Klopp said: “You talk about that game (the 2-1 win). We had another night at Aston Villa...

“True, it was a really special game when we won 2-1. At half-time we had a little situation in the dressing room – a little argument between two players but you will not get the names from me (Robertson has previously admitted it was him and Mane) – and then we could calm it down and turned the game around, which was really special.

“That’s when you go for absolutely everything, when everything is on the edge and these kinds of things can happen as long as you settle as quick as possible. That was a very important one, a great feeling after the game absolutely.

“This group of players was really special. It meant so much and things can happen when you work together for a long time especially, that’s normal.”

Liverpool head to Villa today with nothing to play for except pride in Klopp’s penultimate game as boss. Villa suffered a major disappointment on Thursday when they missed the chance to reach the Europa Conference League final against Olympiacos.