As far as encounters between Liverpool and Manchester United go, Sunday’s 1-1 draw wasn’t the most volatile.
That’s not to say it wasn’t without its flashpoints, though.
At one point, Jurgen Klopp was seen attempting to square up to Jose Mourinho on the touchline, kept apart only by the fourth official.
The incident happened after a spat between Roberto Firmino and Ander Herrera.
The United midfielder clearly grabbed the Liverpool attacker’s shirt as he attempted to break away, and Firmino responded by pushing Herrera away.
Herrera’s dramatic reaction not only riled the crowd up but it clearly sparked something on the touchline too. Check out the incident below:
I do wonder what the reaction would have been if Mourinho lost his temper like Klopp here. I'm sure a different story. pic.twitter.com/WddGH4PCCX
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 15, 2017
Yet, despite Mourinho’s history of warring with managers, Klopp seemed in fairly amiable mood after the game when he reflected upon their argument. Maybe he was just happy his side had hung on after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s equaliser led to a late bombardment from United.
“He wanted the minimum of a yellow card, I don’t know,” the German explained, quoted via the Independent.
“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 seemed to have a slightly different version of events, but it all adds up to a misunderstanding between the two managers.
“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 in that part of the game – emotional and in control of good professionals.”
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