Klopp: Gerrard will get ‘best reception’ ahead of Liverpool return

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Steve Gerrard will get a deserved good reception when he returns to Anfield with his Aston Villa side.

Gerrard will return to Anfield for the first time as a manager on Saturday afternoon and much has been made of the 41-year-old clash with his former side.

After spending over 20 years with the Reds, Gerrard’s reunion with the Anfield faithful is expected to be a good one but the Villa boss has played down the occasion.

Big Weekend: Leicester v Newcastle, Manchester City, Gerrard

However, his opponent on Saturday, Klopp, has admitted Gerrard will not be sure how it will feel returning to his former side.

“Wonderful story. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling. I know he said no sentiments. Stevie is an experienced manager and knows exactly how to approach games. But he probably has no idea how it’ll feel stepping out at the stadium. I had a similar thing first time I went back to Mainz.

“Stevie is friends with 99.9% of the people who work at Liverpool FC. And the 0.1% just haven’t met him yet.

“We are all professionals and we will go with all we have. Stevie will get the best reception because he deserves it but in the 95 minutes we need everyone behind us.”

Klopp was also asked if he thought he would be coming up against Gerrard so early in the former Liverpool’s captain managerial career.

“I didn’t think about it in that moment but that doesn’t mean I didn’t think he’d be at this level so early. He is ready for everything. It’s not easy for a world class player to become an outstanding manager but it is possible and Stevie has the skills.”

Klopp also revealed defender Nathaniel Phillips will be out until the new year after fracturing his cheekbone in the win over AC Milan in the week.

“Nat, what a story. Unfortunately it’s broke. Not as bad as it could have been. No surgery, he can train pretty much from next week. But need to be careful. How long it will take, I don’t know. Four or five weeks.”