Liverpool fans should raise the roof for returning manager Rafa Benitez when he brings his relegation-threatened Newcastle United to Anfield on Saturday, says Jurgen Klopp.
“He’s a very successful manager, nice person! Be louder than you have ever been — that’s absolutely okay. That’s how I would say hello to a good old friend,” Klopp, hoping to emulate Benitez’s success at Liverpool, told a news conference.
“He still lives around here, nobody has to ignore this wonderful moment. Do how you feel!”
Spaniard Benitez spent six years at Liverpool and famously took them to the Champions League title in 2005 when they recovered from 3-0 down against AC Milan in Istanbul to win the final on penalties.
He also took them to the final in 2007, won the FA Cup in 2006 and regularly had Liverpool challenging near the Premier League summit, although he was unable to win it.
Benitez, who had spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool, is now in the middle of very different challenge, that of trying to keep Newcastle in the top flight after replacing Steve McClaren, reports Reuters.
What looked like a hopeless cause now looks possible, with a victory against Swansea City and a draw with Manchester City giving them a chance of safety with four games left.
“They don’t look like a relegation team, but that shows how strong this league is. It’s pretty difficult to change direction,” Klopp, whose side are five points behind fifth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand, said.
“They are in a good moment but we want to keep the points here, that’s why we play on Saturday and so that’s what we have to show.”
Klopp also offered an update on striker Divock Origi, who was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury during Liverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.
He said the Belgium international could still return this season.
“It’s an injury, it’s serious, but we will try everything, everything to ensure that his season is not over without taking risks for the player — that’s how it is,” he said.
“I’m long enough in this business to know we are all different, all individuals, so we don’t have to say any general thing. We only have to work with him.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Vardy’s absence for Premier League leaders Leicester City could have a big impact, says Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino, although he prefers to focus on his side’s Monday night clash with West Bromwich Albion.
Tottenham reduced Leicester’s lead to five points with a 4-0 victory at Stoke City on Monday, and will hope the Foxes struggle without Vardy when they host Swansea City on Sunday.
“I think that it’s a big impact for Leicester because Vardy is one of the best players in the Premier League.
“Sure, it’s a big impact for them,” Pochettino said at his Friday news conference.
“I am sure they will feel that but they have different players that can play the same way.”
Vardy, whose 22 goals is only two shy of the total scored by Tottenham’s Harry Kane, is suspended after picking up a second yellow card for diving in the 2-2 draw with West Ham United last weekend. He could face another match on the sidelines pending the outcome of an FA charge of improper conduct.
Tottenham have sustained their strongest title challenge in decades but could need maximum points from their final four games and a Leicester wobble if they are to win their first English league title since 1961.
The form they displayed in dismantling Stoke on Monday, however, suggests they could push Leicester all the way.
“I’m very happy with how we have played in the last four games but we still need to keep working hard and try to win on Monday, that’s the objective, to keep fighting for the title,” the Argentine said.
“We are close, but it’s still a large gap.”
Pochettino said playing 24 hours after Leicester for the second week running was not a problem, and that he would watch his title rivals’ game with Swansea on television on Sunday.
“We have built up the week in a fantastic way and now we need to be patient and wait for Monday,” he said.
“I don’t complain, it’s not an excuse if we don’t win the league. We are happy and just trying to focus on us.”
