LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has backed Steven Gerrard to come back stronger from his Aston Villa sacking – but hopes he takes some time away from the game first.
Gerrard was sacked as manager in the aftermath of Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Thursday night.
The club have collected just nine points from their opening 11 matches and only lie above the relegation zone on goals scored.
“I am sure he will come back from that,” said Klopp.
“We had a little exchange this morning, but nothing too deep. Not a long conversation.
“I can imagine it’s disappointing for him because of the visions he had and the things he wanted to achieve at Aston Villa. It is obviously not cool.
“But I don’t think we have to worry now about Stevie. He said himself yesterday, he knows the game long enough and these things can happen.
“How it is in life, we all get knocks here and there and it’s all about how you respond.
“He always came back and he will come back from that, no doubt about that.
“A lot of great managers out there had to leave their previous clubs for different reasons, some of the best did that – quite recently – and showed up somewhere else and learned from it, found a better situation.
“He will be back, 100 per cent, but now I hope he takes a bit of time as well because since he finished his (playing) career he is pretty much working all the time, so maybe use it now a little bit for himself to recharge.”
