Mauricio Pochettino demands 'fairness' from referees on Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour
- Chelsea will face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Sunday at Wembley
- Two sides met earlier this year; Reds roared to a comfortable 4-1 win
- Pochettino was unimpressed with the refereeing in January's defeat
By Tom Gott
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has urged referees not to get caught up in the emotion of Jurgen Klopp's final run as Liverpool manager.
The two sides will meet at Wembley on Sunday for the Carabao Cup final in a repeat of last month's Premier League clash, in which Liverpool romped to a comfortable 4-1 victory.
While Pochettino was happy to admit his side deserved nothing from January's game, he questioned several decisions from the referee during the match and demanded officials give teams a "fair" chance up against Klopp between now and the end of the season.
"I think we need to be sure we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision," the Chelsea boss said. "When we played against Liverpool at Anfield, I think too many decisions... not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given. Duels, 50-50s, always for another colour. Always red. I want to be treated in a fair way.
"Of course, we are going to celebrate [Klopp]. I am the first who is going to say that Liverpool is amazing and Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world. But I think after my last experience playing there, what I want in Wembley is to go there and not feel the pressure. It is to play a game at the same level and the best team will win. But not to feel the pressure of people around."
Pochettino continued: "They were better than us [at Anfield], of course. But the first decision after five minutes was a clear penalty. In the second half it was a penalty, [Christopher] Nkunku.
"We are Chelsea and we need to compete with the same tools. If they are better, well done and we congratulate them, but be fair in every single decision. The pressure is about not delivering the job for Klopp, no, the pressure is not to be part of the [hype]."
The Argentine ended by denying the incentive of spoiling Klopp's farewell was an added incentive for Chelsea.
"We want to win because of Chelsea," he stressed. "But of course Liverpool want to win. But please, not another party involved in the game will be part of the celebration that Klopp is leaving, no? That is important."
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