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Liverpool legend Phil Thompson makes Luis Suarez request to Reds fans before Barcelona
LIVERPOOL hero Phil Thompson has urged fans and players to ‘wind up’ Barcelona striker Luis Suarez.
Liverpool fans were outraged when Suarez wildly celebrated scoring the opening goal in their Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona last week.
Reds fans know that they need to score at least three goals to have any chance of reaching a second consecutive European final, and Phil Thompson hopes they give the former Liverpool striker stick for his actions.
"He made me believe what everybody else thought of Luis Suarez, going over and above that,” Thompson told Sky Sports.
"I could understand now maybe what other fans thought of Suarez when he was at Liverpool.
“I hope the Liverpool fans and players give it to him, wind him up something rotten."
John Aldridge and other Liverpool legends were quick to slam Suarez for celebrating in such a jubilant fashion during the first leg, and Thompson believes the Uruguayan ‘crossed the line’.
He continued: ”I’ve no problem with people celebrating goals when they play against their old teams. What he did at Liverpool was fantastic.
"Some of his attitude he had in the first leg was outrageous. I think he crossed that line.
“I know a lot of supporters out there were absolutely outraged at what he did."
"Winding him up sometimes only makes him play better, but this is Anfield.
“I think the fans do realise and I think he'll get a rough reception and I hope the players wind him up.
"He might get a little angry, but we're 3-0 down, we have to be street-savvy on that pitch."
Liverpool’s slim chances were hit by another blow this weekend as Mohamed Salah’s injury ruled him out of the second leg.
Jurgen Klopp revealed on Monday: “It is concussion and that means he is not allowed to play.
“He feels ok, but it is not enough for a medical point of view. He can play at the weekend.”
When asked how he will approach the Barcelona fixture now two of his star forwards [Salah and Roberto Firmino] are unavailable, Klopp revealed it is business as normal.
“The approach? We try to win the game. That makes sense,” Klopp added.