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Jurgen Klopp urges Liverpool fans to 'forget' looming exit and 'go for each opponent like crazy'

Jurgen Klopp urges Liverpool fans to 'forget' looming exit and 'go for each opponent like crazy'

Jurgen Klopp was appreciative of the warm reception he received on Sunday but has urged Liverpool fans to forget about his looming summer exit for now and instead focus on making Anfield as inhospitable an environment for opposing teams as possible over the coming months.

The FA Cup fourth-round tie against Championship opposition in Norwich coached by his best friend in David Wagner saw Reds fans pay tribute to their beloved boss of more than eight years, who rocked the world of English football on Friday with a shock announcement that he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the current season less than two years after signing a new long-term contract.

There were banners, signs, T-shirts and chants in support of Klopp before, during and after an emotional-charged game on Merseyside, which Liverpool easily won 5-2 courtesy of goals from five different scorers in Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch to tee up a last-16 meeting at home to either Southampton or Watford next month.

And while Klopp certainly appreciated the outpouring of love that came his way at Anfield on Sunday, he now wants supporters to go back to ensuring that Anfield is an extremely difficult place to play for rival clubs as his side continue to fight for major silverware on four fronts between now and the summer.

Warm reception: Liverpool fans paid tribute to outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp on Sunday (AP)
Warm reception: Liverpool fans paid tribute to outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp on Sunday (AP)

Liverpool, who have a five point-lead at the Premier League summit and are also through to the Carabao Cup final and the last 16 of the Europa League, host Chelsea in the top-flight next on Wednesday night before travelling to face title rivals Arsenal in a key showdown at the Emirates Stadium next weekend.

"The atmosphere today, the people obviously showed everything to me and it's wonderful and I love it and it's absolutely great," Klopp told ITV after the win over Norwich.

"It's unnecessary because I know about it, but I will not say don't do it anymore. People can do what they want definitely and I mean it.

"But we need obviously an atmosphere on the pitch and for that we need a crowd just not to think about the manager.

"I'm really sorry I had to mention that and these kind of things but that's how it is. Now we just have to forget it for a while and just go for each opponent like crazy.

"That's what we want to do and the next chance we have is on Wednesday."

Addressing the reception from fans in his post-match press conference, Klopp said: "It's emotional but I have to pull myself together. I received all the messages. I'm not made of wood."