Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders insists there's no concern over their rivalry with Manchester City.

Liverpool and City released a statement yesterday ahead of their Carabao Cup tie tomorrow seeking to ease the tension between the two clubs.

Lijnders said: "It's very positive both clubs are cooperating. I worked at Porto for seven years and PSV for five years. The only reason games are rivalries because they are matter and they are decisive - and we feel it in this game [City] as well. We need to feel these games matter. The only problem with emotion is when there's no respect, and that's really harmful.

"If the World Cup proved one thing it is that you need your whole squad. When we play League Cup, it is always during a busy schedule. It is a perfect moment to use a full squad. It is a different situation as we've had a long time off. Age is just a number. We still believe we need to give our talents chance because we believe in them."

On the two benches keeping their cool, he added: "Top sport is emotion and going to edges and seeing the line you want to go over but can't. For us it's impossible to be fully emotional as we are in the game. The ones who control their emotions are always the ones who go furthest. Don't let them control you.