Jurgen Klopp loves intensity of Merseyside derby but wants Liverpool and Everton to be ‘legally aggressive’ after injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Thiago

Jurgen Klopp says he likes the intensity of a Merseyside derby ahead of Everton – but wants both clubs to stick to ‘rules’.

As well as their clash with the Toffees on Sunday, Liverpool have huge games ahead including an FA Cup final, Champions League semi-final and crucial Premier League fixtures as they look to win an unprecedented quadruple.

Getty

And, after Virgil Van Dijk and Thiago picked up injuries in a game between the two last season, Klopp wants the game to have the same physicality and intensity as usual – but doesn’t want one either team overshoots the mark.

When asked if there will be more intensity in the Merseyside derby this week: “Perhaps, yes, but this derby has never lacked intensity, to be honest.

“I like the intensity of football and the physicality of football.

“But there is a rulebook and we just have to make sure we all stick to that and don’t overdo it.

“They do like ‘the good old days’, let me put it like that, but sometimes we suffer from those situations.

“I just want to have a very intense, very physical and legally aggressive game of football, but not more than that because we also play games after the derby.

AFP or licensors

“It’s always been very intense and, yes, this one is important for both of us, but I can’t remember when it wasn’t important for us.

“I don’t know where we would be without the points against Everton.

“Or where we could have been had we won last year, which we obviously lost. That would have been very helpful!

“But, yeah, maybe a little more, but it’s still intense.”

Sports