Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has called for the rivalry between his side and Manchester City to be underlined by respect, ahead of the two clubs meeting in the Carabao Cup on Thursday.
City and Liverpool have come together to attempt to put an end to the toxic rivalry building in recent meetings, which culminated in a bad-tempered Premier League clash in October. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was sent off, and City claimed coins were thrown at Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff.
Liverpool were furious at unacceptable chanting from the away end mocking the Hillsborough disaster, while offensive graffiti of a similar nature was left in the away concourse, before City also claimed their bus was attacked on the way out of Anfield. In response, the clubs have moved to calm relations, and this week sent a letter to fans signed by City CEO Ferran Soriano and Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan to ask supporters for help in reporting the minority of fans engaging in 'unacceptable' behaviour.
ALSO READ: De Bruyne dresses up as Santa as Man City players visit Children's Hospital
Ahead of the game, Lijnders was asked about the new approach, as he sat in for Klopp in their pre-match press conference. The Reds assistant praised the clubs for uniting to improve relations, while making a comment that any emotion from supporters on both sides must also be coupled with a mutual respect for the opposition.
“It’s very positive that both clubs are co-operating. Ferran and Billy made a good statement, it was really clear,” Lijnders said.
“We know games against City have importance and with rivalry comes emotion and that’s good. We need emotion from the stands and we need to feel these games matter. The only problem with emotion is when there’s no respect. Then it becomes really hard.”
Guardiola had earlier called for fans to support their side in a positive way, and focus on the world-class talents on both sides. After the October meeting saw Guardiola react to Liverpool fans before Klopp was sent off, Lijnders was asked of the role that coaching staff play in how fans behave in the stands.
Calling for his players and fellow staff to control their emotions, Lijnders said: “Of course. Top sport is emotion. It’s going to edges. Top sport is seeing the line that you want to go over but you hold yourself. For us it’s impossible to be fully emotional because the game is too quick for that.
“If I’m emotional to one side [of the pitch] the ball is already on the other side or Pep has already changed something tactically and we have to be aware to counter it or whatever.
“The ones who control their emotions are always the ones who go furthest. Control your emotions, don’t let the emotions control you. We are an example of that in our team.”
READ NEXT:
