Here is your Liverpool morning digest on Sunday, April 24.
Jurgen Klopp responds to Gary Neville claim and sends Everton relegation message
Liverpool welcome Everton to Anfield on Sunday afternoon looking to close the gap at the top of the Premier League to one point.
Though the game is being played on the red side of Merseyside, the match at Goodison Park last season was memorable for all the wrong reasons. A reckless challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordon Pickford on Virgil van Dijk ended the defender's season. Thiago also suffered an injury which kept him out for three months after a tackle from Richarlison that saw the Blues striker be sent off.
Ahead of today's encounter, Jurgen Klopp has stressed the need for any aggression to be controlled. And the Liverpool manager's comments came days after Manchester United were humiliated 4-0 at Anfield in a match that could have seen substitute Hannibal Mejbri sent off. The youngster, on another night, may have been given two yellow cards for late challenges as United slumped to their second heavy defeat of the campaign to the Reds.
After the game, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville spoke of his pride in watching Mejbri showing a willingness to get physical after sitting on the bench while his more experienced colleagues got overwhelmed. The United legend later apologised for his comments and while Klopp said he could understand what was meant by the initial point on commentary, the German says aggression in football needs to be placed into the correct channels, particularly on derby day.
Klopp added: "He had to apologise for that, rightly so. I understand where he is coming from. Obviously you want to see some aggression, but there is a difference between aggression and kicking players. It makes no sense. Aggression in football means you are ready to hurt yourself, not the other one. I don’t blame the kid (Mejbri), he came on and the game was a bit quick and he was a bit late here and there. It's all good."
Read the full story by Paul Gorst here.
Pep Guardiola two-word verdict on title race with Liverpool after Man City win over Watford
Manchester City opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Premier League on Saturday after beating relegation-threatened Watford 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
That means the pressure is on Liverpool to win in the Merseyside derby. But City boss Pep Guardiola downplayed his team's victory being significant in the title race.
"Nothing changes. We have to win all five games to be champions," Guardiola told Sky Sports after the final whistle.
