John Stones sends warning to Jurgen Klopp over farewell tour

Manchester City defender John Stones has insisted he and his teammates will not allow Jurgen Klopp to sign off his reign as Liverpool manager with four trophies this season.

Klopp confirmed in late January he would be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign following a hugely successful spell at Anfield. The Reds picked up their first piece of silverware last Sunday with victory against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, while they are well positioned to collect three further trophies this season.

But in an interview with The Times, City star Stones admitted he and his teammates are out to spoil Klopp’s farewell tour and ensure they don’t sweep every remaining piece of silverware.

“Oh, no. Can’t be letting that happen!” Stones said of Liverpool winning four trophies to end the Klopp era. “Arsenal, Liverpool, the teams that have been pushing us and us pushing them for the trophies, it’s working in our favour. We’ve got to be better. It’s healthy competition.

“It’s hunger. Do everything, have no regrets. Look, at the end of my career, which is hopefully a long time away, I want to look back and see all the things that I’ve got that I never thought I would have as a kid.

“I’m not bothered about that [his lifestyle or having a big house]. For my kids and my family I want them to have the best life but I’m talking about footballing achievements. That’s still in all of us here: going out on the street or on the park and just playing football and wanting to win, no matter who it’s against. I never thought I’d be able to even play in these games or win all these trophies. So to do it just makes me want to do it even more. Do it again. The Barnsley boy is still in me, 100%.”

Stones added: “Winning trophies sets something off inside you. That feeling! You want it again. It’s hunger and desire. That doesn’t go. Look back over six, seven seasons now and we’ve always been there fighting for the Premier League, always been there in the FA Cup, the semis, finals, in recent years Champions League, Carabao [Cup] four on the bounce.

“Something that goes so under the radar is how difficult that is to maintain over a sustained period. That’s something I’m proud of. This hunger.”