Jurgen Klopp admits it's human nature for Steven Gerrard to have extra motivation to help Liverpool's title quest this weekend - but isn't going to concern himself with matters at Manchester City.
The Reds boss has also sent his congratulations to neighbours Everton after their thrilling 3-2 comeback against Crystal Palace last night secured top flight status.
The league championship will be decided on Sunday afternoon with the Reds a point behind leaders City going into the final round of games. While Liverpool entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers, Pep Guardiola's side are at home to Gerrard's Aston Villa knowing a failure to win would open the door for Klopp's side to claim the title.
And Klopp believes there should be no surprise in the Anfield legend wanting to help his boyhood club.
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"I can only understand these situations by thinking of myself in that role," said the Reds boss. "If I could play a game that would help Dortmund, that would help Mainz, it would mean for me an extra motivation. That's how it is.
"But I don't play, and Stevie doesn't play. It's a shame - much more a shame that Stevie isn't playing than I'm not playing! We are all human beings to have these kind of things. Stevie will take it 100% serious I'm absolutely sure, without me calling him. I don't have to. Probably the rest of the club did it already, but I didn't!"
Klopp pointed to Crystal Palace's performance against Everton on Thursday as evidence of how teams with seemingly little to play for can raise their game in important games for their opponents. The Reds boss also congratulated the Blues after they secured their top-flight status with a game remaining.
"A really good example of how motivated football teams are to fulfil their own targets is last night's game from Crystal Palace," said Klopp, speaking on Friday. "Wow, they put everything into that game. It was one of the most important games in Everton's history and Palace shows up there and plays incredible football.
"In the end they lost, but the effort they put in and passion they showed, the whole game was really good from Palace. Congratulations by the way to Everton to stay in the league, but that's a good example of how football teams usually are. We play to win, and Aston Villa play to win."
Klopp added: "It's a difficult place to go, if you go to City and you aren't 100% then you get (beat) five or six. Easily. If you are fully there then you have a chance to get a result. But that's a game I'm not concerned about or thinking about at all. I've already spoken too much about that game. It's completely disrespectful to Wolverhampton Wanderers because they will do exactly the same (as Palace against Everton). They don't come here and want to be part of our celebrations or stuff like this, they come here and want to get three points. We have to be ready for this game and not the other one."
