Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will take Man City game '100% serious'
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Gerrard will take Man City game '100% serious' - Klopp
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says ex-Reds captain and Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard will take Sunday's game against Manchester City "100% serious".
Klopp's side are one point behind City going into the last game of the season.
Gerrard can help his former club win the Premier League title if his side can beat or draw at City and Liverpool beat Wolves.
"I can only understand these sorts of situations by thinking of myself in the role," said Klopp.
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"If I would play a game and could help [former clubs Borussia] Dortmund or Mainz, it would mean for me an extra motivation. That's how it is.
"But I'm not playing and Stevie doesn't play. That's a shame - much more of a shame that Stevie isn't playing than I'm not playing.
"We're all human beings. Stevie will take it 100% serious without me calling him or whatever. I don't have to, probably, the rest of the club did it already but I haven't.
Gerrard played 710 games and scored 186 goals for Liverpool during a 17-year career at Anfield, winning eight major trophies, including the Champions League in 2005.
However, he did not win the Premier League as a player but did come close when he was part of a Liverpool side who were three games from winning the title in 2014, only for his infamous slip to help Chelsea to victory at Anfield as City ended up finishing top instead.
"In terms of Liverpool, I totally understand and respect the external noise and questions that have been coming my way for some time," said Gerrard.
"They are involved in a title race and I spent a lot of time there. It is disappointing when people mention integrity with me and Aston Villa and any of my players.
"We will go out at the weekend and give it everything we have got to get points for Aston Villa. If that inevitably helps Liverpool, fantastic. But my priority is to get points for Aston Villa."
Liverpool have won this season's Carabao Cup and FA Cup and have reached the Champions League final, which they will play against Real Madrid on 28 May.
However, any hopes of achieving the quadruple will be over if City secure the Premier League title on Sunday.
Regardless of the result in the remaining two competitions, there will be a victory parade for the team in Liverpool on 29 May.
"There are so many reasons to celebrate," added Klopp. "We don't know how many reasons but we already have enough.
"We didn't have a parade two years ago when we were champions - it's not for that reason but that's another reason.
"I'm really happy that we can deliver what I promised at that time when I said that whenever it is possible that we will have a parade.
"It's all about us and what we want to celebrate. It's not about what other people think."
Meanwhile, Klopp confirmed that 27-year-old Belgium striker Divock Origi, who joined Liverpool from Lille in 2014, will leave the club in the summer.
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