Jurgen Klopp has told Darwin Nunez not to dwell on the disappointment of his home debut red card against Crystal Palace.
The Liverpool striker was sent off just before the hour mark of their 1-1 draw with Palace on Monday after reacting to a shove from Joachim Andersen by pushing his head into the Dane's face and will be suspended for the Reds' trip to Manchester United on Monday.
Nunez posted an apology on Twitter on Tuesday, and Klopp – who confirmed Roberto Firmino is back in training – insists the Uruguayan should move on quickly.
"Of course we spoke to Darwin, and his reaction was like the reaction is in these situations," Klopp told reporters on Friday. "He was very disappointed with himself obviously that it happened, we spoke to him, the things the centre half did [he] will not be the only player in the world who is doing these kinds of things.
"It's like that, if somebody makes such a mistake and you tell them 'you should not do it' then [the response is] 'yeah, I know'. It's about emotions, it's about these kinds of things.
"He apologised, which is absolutely fine, but we told him it's not necessary to be walking through the building head down, miserable stuff like this. We are human beings, we make mistakes and you have to carry on, it's all fine. It happened once and it's okay."
Klopp also addressed rumours from Germany that midfielder Naby Keita is unhappy with a lack of playing time and could potentially leave the club, with the Reds boss dismissing them out of hand.
"It's really funny when I have to respond on 'news', because what you would learn on my side of the table is how often 0.0 is behind news," he said.
"No, nothing [in the stories], absolutely nothing. Naby was ill for a week, last game on the bench, is full in training, looks really good, all fine. But not a player who is overly happy when he's not playing, but it's completely fine. Nobody came to me and asked me about that."
The German coach said after the draw against Palace he felt "like a witch was in the building" after several players were forced to miss the game with injury issues, including Joe Gomez, who was only fit enough to come off the bench, with Nat Phillips taking his place in the starting line-up in the absence of injured duo Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip.
Klopp did though confirm that Gomez is set to start at Old Trafford on Monday, saying: "He was really unlucky [before the Palace game]. He had a little thing, but I had to make a decision, he only came back to team training on Sunday.
"So yeah, big opportunity [for Gomez], he looks great in training. So he's back, he was in the squad last week, but now he's back in normal training and hopefully it stays like this and yeah, he will start."
The former Borussia Dortmund head coach also warned against facing a wounded animal as he prepares his team to face a United side bottom of the Premier League table after starting the season with two defeats, including last weekend's 4-0 thrashing at Brentford.
"I would prefer to play them after they won 5-0, definitely," he said. "We drew two games so is it better to play us, or worse? I don't know, it's just the situation.
"I think the whole world will watch it, it's Monday night, and we will see how these two heavyweights deal with the situation. I would watch it. I will watch it, by the way!"
Leverkusen motivated by Roma loss in 2022-23
Bayer Leverkusen will use last campaign's Europa League loss against Roma as motivation to get the job done this time, so says Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen were knocked out by Roma after a goalless draw in the second leg of the Europa League semis last season, losing the tie 1-0 on aggregate.
But a few things have changed since then with Alonso's side, who are now on an extraordinary 48-match unbeaten run this campaign, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga title to secure their first trophy since 1993.
They are also a step closer to a treble, having beaten Roma 2-0 away in the first leg last week and reaching the DFB-Cup final against Kaiserslautern.
"We haven't forget (forgotten) last season, we felt it. We need to use this energy and hopeful we can celebrate at the end. We will put all of our focus on the full 90 minutes. We want to deserve our win and make the final in Dublin," Alonso told reporters.
The Spaniard, however, said Leverkusen will have to be on their toes despite their advantage as he believes Roma will continue to be dangerous opponents under manager Daniele De Rossi, who replaced Jose Mourinho in January.
"A second leg is always a dangerous situation no matter the result before," Alonso said.
"We are preparing to play well with good motivation and at our own game. We want to be aggressive, control and defend well as a team.
"We are expecting Roma to come with the hope of qualifying."
Man Utd keen to sell Greenwood amid Barcelona interest, claims Getafe president
Manchester United are keen to sell Mason Greenwood in the upcoming transfer window and could field interest from Barcelona, according to Getafe president Angel Torres.
Greenwood joined Getafe on a season-long loan deal in September and has scored eight goals and added six assists in 29 appearances in LaLiga in 2023-24.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 and was later charged with attempted rape and assault, with all charges against him dropped in February 2023.
United then conducted a six-month internal investigation into his conduct and said they recognised "the difficulties with him recommencing his career" with the club.
In February, speculation that Greenwood could yet return to Old Trafford was heightened when new minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe said a "fresh decision" would be made on his future at the end of the season.
However, Getafe chief Torres claims the Red Devils are now keen to cash in on a player he hopes to keep at the Estadio Coliseum.
"If it depended on the player, his parents and the club, I think he would continue for another year," Torres said of Greenwood in an interview with RadioMARCA on Tuesday.
"Manchester United's idea is to sell if there is a good offer, we will have to wait. I think he will stay."
Reports had suggested both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona were considering a move for Greenwood, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract with United.
Torres claims Barca president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco have been in touch about the 22-year-old, adding: "No one from Atleti has asked me about Greenwood.
"I spoke with [Atleti president] Miguel Angel [Gil Marin], but about other things. The only one who asked me about the player was Joan Laporta.
"I spoke with him and Deco and they asked me what he was like to get a sense of the player, but first they have to sell to buy, this is the problem with Spanish football."
'Call it a day' – Casemiro told to quit Man Utd after hapless Palace display
Casemiro has been told to quit Manchester United after producing a dire display in Monday's 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace, with Jamie Carragher saying the Brazilian can no longer cut it at the top level.
United produced arguably their worst performance of the season on Monday, with Michael Olise scoring twice as Palace hammered Erik ten Hag's injury-hit side at Selhurst Park.
With Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof all sidelined, Casemiro played as a makeshift centre-back alongside Jonny Evans and endured a nightmare outing.
The Brazilian was beaten all too easily by Olise for Palace's opener, then was outmuscled by Daniel Munoz for Olise's second goal just after the hour mark.
Carragher believes the time has come for the five-time Champions League winner to step away from the top level, saying a move to MLS or the Saudi Pro League should be on the cards.
"I think Casemiro should know himself, as an experienced player, that he should only have three games left at a top level," Carragher said in his role as Sky Sports pundit.
"Then he should say, 'I'm going to head to MLS or Saudi'. His agent or the team around him need to tell him. We're watching one of the greats of the modern time.
"But I always remember something when I retired, a saying I'll always remember, 'leave the football before the football leaves you'.
"The football's left him at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level of football and move."
Casemiro has struggled throughout his second season at Old Trafford. Last campaign, the former Real Madrid star won possession 8.68 times per 90 minutes, on average, in the Premier League, also managing 1.44 interceptions per game.
Both of those figures are down this term, with Casemiro only winning possession back 6.14 times and making 0.84 interceptions per 90 minutes.
Since the turn of the year, meanwhile, United have faced a Premier League-high 317 shots, while only West Ham (36.35), Luton Town (35.78), Burnley (31.88) and Sheffield United (31.6) have allowed opponents to generate more expected goals (xG) than their 31.47.
Ten Hag, however, refused to single out Casemiro for criticism after Monday's match, saying: "You can't put this down to one player, it's a team performance."
Casemiro has been dribbled past on 52 occasions in the Premier League this season, with only eight players being beaten by opponents more often in the competition.
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