Don’t get distracted by cup final, Klopp warns Liverpool

Jon Flanagan: No new deal yet

Jon Flanagan: No new deal yet

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned his players not to start thinking about a Capital One Cup final appearance – which could yet be a Merseyside derby against Everton.

The Reds scraped through their semi-final 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out over Stoke after Marko Arnautovic’s first-half goal, which replays showed was well offside, had levelled the two-legged tie 1-1 on aggregate.

Everton could join them at Wembley in the first Merseyside final for 27 years if they beat Manchester City on Wednesday – they hold a 2-1 lead – but Klopp does not want his players to start thinking about the occasion just yet.

“At this moment you should not talk too much about it. Being in a final is cool but it is only about winning. You should not make the pressure too big,” he said.

“Don’t start thinking now ‘What could it mean for me’ four weeks before the final.

“I heard about it (a Merseyside final) being the biggest thing but only if you beat them.

“We will watch the game tomorrow and Man City being a goal down it is possible and if everything comes together in a good way it is a derby at Wembley.

“That will be great for the whole city. This city will have deserved it because it is a great place for football and how Blues and Reds live together in a normal life is how football should be.

“But if you meet each other you should want to beat each other.

“In a derby do everything that you can do to beat them.”

Asked what winning a trophy at Wembley next month would mean Klopp added: “A really good night in London!”