Jurgen Klopp admits he’d feel ‘extra motivation’ if he was Steven Gerrard for Villa’s game at City

Jurgen Klopp has admitted he would feel extra motivation in Steven Gerrard’s shoes this weekend, with his Aston Villa side potentially holding the key to where the Premier League title ends up.

Liverpool legend Gerrard takes Villa to the Etihad stadium knowing that avoiding defeat could be enough for his old side to win the Premier League title. Liverpool meet Wolves at Anfield and for Klopp’s team, only a win will do.

‘I can understand these situations by imagining myself in that role,’ Klopp said at his Friday press conference. ‘If I was doing a game where I could help Dortmund or Mainz, it would mean for me an extra motivation. 

Liverpool could win the Premier League this weekend but need a favour from Steven Gerrard

Gerrard’s Aston Villa travel to the Eithad stadium to take on Liverpool’s rivals Manchester City

Klopp admitted he’d feel extra motivation to get a result if he was in Gerrard’s position 

‘But I don’t play and Stevie doesn’t play – it’s much more of a shame that Stevie’s not playing than I’m not playing! We are all human, Steve will take it 100 per cent serious I’m sure without me calling him. 

‘I don’t have to – probably the rest of the club did it already but I didn’t!’

Villa were in action on Thursday night, drawing 1-1 with Burnley at Turf Moor. They are 14th in the Premier League table but a victory against City, combined with other results going in their favour, could see them rise as high as 10th.

‘We will look to make it as difficult as we can,’ Gerrard said of Sunday’s match. ‘We know they have got world class players and a world class manager but our form is pretty good on the road.

‘We will try to be as organised as we can and make it as difficult as we can but there is three points to play for from our point of view and we want to fight for every single one of them.’

Klopp, however, stressed that all his attention is on making sure Liverpool are ready for Wolves and cited Merseyside neighbours Everton, and their hard-fought win over Crystal Palace on Thursday, as evidence to concentrate.

Klopp has warned his Liverpool squad that defeating Wolves is not a straightforward task

Klopp’s men need to beat Wolves and hope that City drop points against Villa to win the title

‘An example of how motivated teams are to fill their perspective is Everton against Palace, Klopp said. ‘Wow. One of the most important games for Everton in their history and Palace turned up and played incredible football. Yes they lost, the effort they put in, the passion they showed and the whole game was really good.

‘They lost, congratulations Everton by the way for staying in the league but that’s a good example of how football teams are. You play to win. 

‘This is the game I’m not concerned about (City v Villa), or thinking about at all. Wolves will do exactly the same (as Palace), they come here and want to win and we have to be ready for this game and not the other one.’