Jurgen Klopp shares surprise at 'over the top' Everton and Liverpool reaction he wants
Jurgen Klopp has urged his Liverpool players to keep their cool in the heat of derby battle as they prepare for a Goodison inferno this evening.
The Reds make the short journey across Stanley Park for the 244th Merseyside scrap against Everton aiming for their 100th victory in the fixture to maintain their chase for the Premier League title.
Klopp recently expressed his surprise at the ferocity of derbies earlier in his Anfield tenure, with his first game against the Blues in April 2016 seeing Everton defender Ramires Funes Mori sent off for a foul that injured Divock Origi.
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And in October 2020, both Virgil van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara were ruled out for lengthy periods after challenges from Jordan Pickford and Richarlison respectively, the latter receiving a red card.
But although Ashley Young was dismissed for two bookable in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield earlier this season, Klopp believes the fixture - which has seen a record 23 red cards in Premier League history - has benefited from losing some of its physicality and has outlined the importance of his team keeping 11 players on the pitch, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos the last Reds player sent off in a derby in February 2010.
Asked if the derby was the most physical game of the season, Klopp said: "It used to be. At the beginning I remember I showed the players videos of (Jamie) Carragher in the derby and Stevie (Gerrard) where he got red cards. I love one, and respect the other a lot.
"That's what the people expect, that if you get a red card against Everton it's fine. It's not, it's absolutely not
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