Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard share a concern ahead of Liverpool vs Everton this Sunday. The two bosses were quick to point it out.
It’s the Merseyside derby on Sunday as Liverpool host Everton at Anfield. It’s a particularly massive one, too, as both sides compete at opposite ends of the table.
Liverpool need a win to keep pressure on Manchester City. Anything less allows Pep Guardiola’s side to earn from breathing room – and the Reds can’t afford that. Everton, on the other hand, desperately need anything as they try to fight off relegation. A point would be a dream.
This promises to be an intense match, then, and in some ways, that’s a concern. Both managers points that out before this one, hoping things don’t cross the line in terms of physicality.
“I love intensity in football, I love physicality in football but just in the rulebook and just make sure that we all stick to that, don’t go over the top, these kind of things,” Klopp told a press conference on Friday.
“[Don’t] make it like in the ‘good old times’, let me say it like this, and even we suffered from these situations.
“I just want to have a very intense, very physical and legally-aggressive football game but not more, because we play games after the derby as well – we should not forget, all of us.”
“We expect players to be physical but on the right side of the law,” said Lampard in his press conference. “I hope the referee sees that.
“At Goodison, we have had yellow cards become red cards. Maybe at Anfield, it doesn’t go that way.”
Liverpool vs Everton
It’s always a concern, of course. No Premier League fixture has seen more red cards than this one and the intensity can get out of hand – though, that’s part of the fun.
Unfortunately, Liverpool really can’t afford to enjoy that too much. As Klopp says, there are other games to worry about here and injuries or red cards could screw everything up.
Everton, though, will want this to be physical as it’s the only realistic chance they have of getting something. Liverpool just need to hope it doesn’t cross any lines and that they can handle it well.