The game between Manchester United and Liverpool ended in a 1 – 1 draw, with lots of talking points which evidently include the touchline confrontation between the managers of both sides.
Jurgen Klopp revealed why he reacted so angrily to Jose Mourinho on the touchline, saying it was because you Portuguese tactician wanted Firmino sent off after a clash between Roberto Firmino and Ander Herrera in Sunday’s Old Trafford showdown.
“He [Mourinho] wanted the minimum of a yellow card, I don’t know,” Klopp said. “I think the ref whistled before anything else happened.
“Roberto is a footballer from head to toe and he wanted to stay in the game. That was a yellow card for Herrera and nothing else. In the end, it was a yellow card for the guy who wanted to play football.
“It could have been even worse if someone wants to see it again and all that stuff. We [Klopp and Mourinho] could not have the same opinion in this moment.”
Mourinho, who remonstrated with the fourth official after the incident, played down the bust-up with Klopp that also involved Manchester United assistant Rui Faria.
“He thought I was asking for his player to be sent off,” the United manager said. “I wasn’t. There was no problem at all.
“I think the game was correct. I think the players gave everything but in an emotional and professional way so the referee did very well.
“There was aggression but it was good. We deserved more but the point is something everyone must accept. They were clever. They took their time. They knew they would be in trouble in the final few minutes.”
