Last Updated: December 21, 2022, 20:47 IST
Premier League: Manchester City and Liverpool (AP)
Ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City’s League Cup fourth-round assembly, each groups wrote to their followers urging them to report any inappropriate behaviour
Liverpool and Manchester City cooperating to enhance supporter behaviour at their matches following unsavoury incidents this season is a welcome signal, the Merseyside membership’s assistant supervisor Pep Lijnders mentioned on Wednesday.
City boss Pep Guardiola had cash thrown at him protesting a disallowed purpose of their 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield whereas the hosts later launched an announcement condemning “vile chants” relating to stadium tragedies.
Ahead of Thursday’s League Cup fourth-round meeting between the heavyweights, both teams wrote to their fans urging them to report any inappropriate behaviour.
“It’s really positive that both clubs are cooperating. It was a good statement and it was really clear. I worked at Porto for seven years the rivalry between Benfica and Porto was on a different level,” Lijnders informed reporters.
“Playing towards City has this significance however with rivalry comes emotion and that’s good as a result of we want emotion from our followers and gamers they usually really feel just like the video games matter. The drawback with emotion is that there must be respect.
“It’s not an issue particular to the golf equipment, it’s a soccer drawback.”
Guardiola, who previously said City’s rivalry with Liverpool was not toxic, told reporters on Wednesday the players, managers and fans wanted to behave but that emotions sometimes got the better of them.
“People can’t behave ice-cold when a goal is disallowed when it should be a goal in this type of game. We’ll always react in that way, but respect for officials, rules and opponents is always there, from my point of view,” Guardiola mentioned.
Lijnders mentioned winger Luis Diaz, who’s nursing a knee harm after experiencing discomfort in Liverpool’s mid-season coaching camp in Dubai, was in good spirits.
“We all know the impression that Luis Diaz had on the staff and it’s not straightforward to return in and have an effect to take the staff ahead,” Lijnders said.
“He has this character where he smiles and works hard and will come back stronger, and that will really help us. Hopefully he’ll come back in the shortest time-frame.”
Read all of the Latest Sports News right here
