Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have been told they must not cross the line when Liverpool and Manchester City clash at the Etihad on Thursday night.
The animosity between Liverpool and City hit a new low earlier this season when the Blues allege coins were thrown at Guardiola and there was offensive chanting and graffiti about Hillsborough.
Klopp also landed a touchline ban for losing his cool with an official and his No.2 Pep Lijnders says they know they need to keep their emotions in check. Lijnders faced the media instead of Klopp at Liverpool’s press conference on Wednesday and said the team that wins is the side that keeps their cool.
Lijnders said: “Top sport is emotional, top sport is about going to the edge, it’s about seeing the line, but you halt yourself. So I think the ones who control their emotions are the ones who are first. So control your emotions, don’t let your emotional control you. We are an example, our team.”
Both clubs have sent a joint letter to fans, urging them to behave at Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie and Lijnders says passion is good as long as it is respectful.
He welcomed the move by both club chiefs, Billy Hogan and Ferran Soriano, and is confident the Liverpool supporters will take note.
“Let me first say that it’s very positive that both clubs are co-operating,” said the Dutchman. "We have made a good statement. Billy and Ferran made a good statement, I think it’s really clear.
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“I worked at Porto for seven years and PSV Eindhoven for five years and the rivalry between PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord was something else and the rivalry between Porto, Benfica and Sporting was from a different level.
“The only reason why there’s a rivalry is because the games matter, the games are decisive. We know that playing City has this importance to our jobs.
“With rivalry comes emotion and that’s good because we need emotion from the stands we need emotion for our players. We need to feel these games matter in each second of the game. The only problem with emotion is when there’s no respect it becomes really harmful.
“That can’t happened and it has happened. But I relate back to the start of my answer, it’s really positive both clubs are co-operating, a good statement. I named Benfica, Ajax and PSV because it’s not specific to our clubs, it’s a football problem and that point is really important as well.”
