Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media before his last game in charge of Liverpool against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He said it has been "the most intense week" of his life as he begins to say goodbye to staff and players.

• On being pictured alone in Anfield this week: "I love Anfield to bits, but I love when it is full. I hope that is not a picture of my time at Liverpool - alone in an empty stadium!"

• He said he has "burst into tears reading" fans letters "about what the club has meant to some people".

• On his time at the club: "A decade of your life is massive, and I will not forget a day. I was at the best club I could have imagined, in a very special city. I got the key of the city. I'm sure for some people that is rather funny, but if the city needs me, I am there."

• On Joel Matip, who will leave this summer: "Have you ever seen a better free transfer? You will not find a more wonderful person. Whoever gets him is a lucky club because he is world class and super humble. That combination is really rare."

• On assistant Pep Lijnders, who is joining Red Bull Salzburg as manager: "We have a bright future. Pep is one of the most influential coaches I have ever had. I will follow each step of him, he is a great choice."

• He said he would have voted for scrapping VAR "because these people [officials] are not able to use it properly" and "if you cannot change the people" then it does not work.

• On facing Wolves: "It would be cool if it was not a goodbye atmosphere and it was a football one. I hope, all together, we can put a really good performance on the pitch because we deserve that."

Follow all of Friday's live Premier League news conferences

Image source, Getty Images

It will be the start of Jurgen Klopp's last dance on his farewell tour when he holds his final pre-match news conference as Liverpool boss on Friday.

Klopp is speaking at about 10:00 BST before he brings the curtain down on his time at Anfield against Wolves on Sunday.

The hope was the match could have been a title-winning send-off for the German, but those dreams disappeared during a poor run of recent results.

Instead, the game is expected to be an emotionally charged farewell for Klopp, who has elevated himself to hero status at Liverpool.

Klopp took over the Merseysiders in October 2015 and, since then, has combined his natural charisma and charm with the type of success that has meant he has captured the hearts and minds of Reds fans.

He has guided the Anfield club to victory in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Club World Cup and Super Cup during his stint in charge and supporters will have the chance to show their gratitude for his exploits on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

"Before he even came to Liverpool, I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play," said Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.

Thiago will leave Anfield when his contract expires this summer, having made 98 appearances.

"Technically, he is so, so good. A talent who could play in any team in the world and it was a privilege to have him with us," added Klopp.

Thiago has shared his thoughts on social media, speaking of his "appreciation and gratitude" as he bids farewell.

"The continuous support I have received since day one has been incredible. Anfield chanting, the Kop chanting... amazing, overwhelming.

"These past four years have been a time of learning for me and my family. Some wins, some defeats, but without a doubt, a life-changing experience.

"And to the fans, I don't have the words. Just know you will have my deepest gratitude forever."

The Spanish playmaker scored six goals in his time at Merseyside and lifted the FA Cup and the Community Shield in his spell at the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Joel Matip has said he always have "special memories" of his time with Liverpool, after it was confirmed he will leave Anfield when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Matip was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League a year later - the Reds' first domestic league title for 30 years.

"It has been eight wonderful years here in Liverpool," said Matip, who joined on a free transfer from German club Schalke in 2016.

"I was allowed to be part of an exciting history with a great coach and an astonishing team in an extraordinary club. We have achieved great titles and have the best fans in the world.

"I am full of gratitude for the wonderful time I was able to experience with these unique people supporting the club and the fans who love Liverpool FC.

"My wife and I have felt welcomed and supported from day one and, together with the kids, we had the best imaginable time here.

"We will always keep it in special memories."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to "wonderful professional" Joel Matip after it was confirmed the centre-back will leave the club at the end of the season.

The 32-year-old has been with Liverpool since 2016, making 201 appearances and winning the Champions League and Premier League during his time at Anfield.

"In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip," said Klopp.

"I'm not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him.

"A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being. We have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction.

"Joel's qualities as a player are there for all to see and as a club we have benefited from them since the first moment that he joined. I don't think he has had too many headlines over the years but he has only ever been a very famous figure within our group.

"I have said before that if there was one person who wouldn't care if he was underrated it would be Joel, but the truth is we could not have rated him more highly. Not only has he set the standards for himself, he has set them for others and this is one of the main reasons why his time here has been so successful."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson believes Jurgen Klopp's impact on the club meant the Reds were the envy of many other teams for the nearly nine years he has been in charge.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside before the German's final game in charge this weekend, at home to Wolves on Sunday, Lawrenson said: "Our football club became completely different with him in charge.

"A lot of people you speak to who support other teams, they just go: 'Gosh, I wish we could have him as a manager.'

"He was trendy, he was cool. He answered all the questions in the press conferences, he told jokes. He lost it a few times as well, which is all part of his personality.

"Our club has always been up there but since he took over, it was right at the very top with all the best clubs."

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• Arsenal have lost just one of their past 27 Premier League home games against Everton, 1-0 in April 2021. They have beaten them three times on the final day of the season in this spell (4-3 in 2001-02, 3-1 in 2016-17 and 5-1 in 2021-22).

• Everton lost the reverse fixture against Arsenal 1-0, but have not been beaten in both Premier League meetings with the Gunners in a campaign since 2017-18.

• Arsenal have won their final Premier League game of the season more often than any other side (22, including the last 12 in a row), also having the best win rate in such matches in the competition (71%).

• The Gunners have not lost their final game of the season since 2004-05 (1-2 vs Birmingham City), and not at home since 1992-93 (1-3 vs Tottenham).

• No side have lost their final game of the Premier League season more often than Everton (14). However, they beat Bournemouth 1-0 last season, and are looking to win their final game in consecutive campaigns for the first time since a run of five between 2007-08 and 2011-12.

Wolves are in the news this week for their pursuit of a vote on the scrapping of VAR.

Their wishes drew further scrutiny on Wednesday when Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon found himself in the middle of a contentious call before offering a strong view on the technology after his side went down at Manchester United.

"Modified" is the word when we are talking about VAR going to a vote.

We are still getting to grips with it, but we have seen some good come from it. There have been some instances of indifferent decisions because calls are getting too many looks at them from so many angles.

They still do not know what is a good tackle and what is not. I think they need help from some former players, who have been in that situation and understand what the differences are in those challenges.

We keep talking about different angles and that is not going to go away because with VAR or without it, on certain challenges we would still disagree. You could have two current players in a room and they still would not agree.

It is Wolves' opinion on VAR and if they feel it is not working for them, then you can understand why they are saying to have a go without it again.

Molineux boss Gary O'Neil has been very frustrated, but he has also been balanced and tried to stay quiet. Now he does not want to stay quiet because he feels it does not benefit them and decisions are not going their way.

Overall, we have seen good things from VAR, even if it does bring with it a delay and a wait.

It would be a shame now for it to all go away when we have all the technology in place.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

As Jurgen Klopp gets set to say goodbye to Liverpool after Sunday's visit of Wolves, some have called him the Bill Shankly of the Reds' recent generation.

Shankly left Liverpool in 1974 in a decision that surprised the football world, just as Klopp's announcement did earlier this season.

Just as the German has, Shankly pointed to a tiredness and toll that comes with such a challenging role.

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool have had their issues with VAR this season.

The most controversial was Luis Diaz's goal against Tottenham not being awarded after being incorrectly given offside by the assistant referee.

The Reds called for a "review with full transparency" of VAR in the wake of an incident they said resulted in "sporting integrity being undermined", while the PGMOL said the decision to disallow the goal was "a significant human error".

Later on in the season, referees' chief Howard Webb admitted Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal for a Martin Odegaard handball.

VAR reviewed the on-field ruling not to give a penalty and confirmed the decision.

However, I understand that Liverpool are not supportive of scrapping VAR and would vote against the Wolves proposal at the meeting in June.

Here are the key facts and figures before Sunday's game between Liverpool and Wolves in the Premier League.

• Liverpool have won 13 of their past 14 Premier League meetings with Wolves, the only exception being a 3-0 loss at Molineux in February last season.

• Wolves have lost eight of their nine Premier League away games against Liverpool - the one exception a 1-0 win in December 2010 when the Reds were managed by Roy Hodgson.

• Liverpool have not lost on any of the past 16 occasions when they have finished their league campaign with a home game (W14 D2) and they have won the past eight in a row. Their last defeat was against Arsenal in the 1988-89 campaign - when the Gunners won 2-0 to secure their first league title in 18 years.

• Wolves have lost eight and won just one of their nine Premier League games on the final 38th league game. Their win rate of 11% on the final day is the lowest of any side currently in the competition - their current run of losing seven consecutive such games is the joint-longest in English top-flight history.