Mourinho and Klopp explain late touchline row

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho says that he engaged in a touchline row with Jurgen Klopp on Sunday as the German thought he was trying to get a Liverpool player sent off.

Mourinho’s Manchester United salvaged a 1-1 draw against the Reds at Old Trafford, a game from which you ought to read 16 Conclusions.

It keeps United in sixth, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, and 12 behind leaders Chelsea.

Towards the end of the match, the two managers were seen arguing on the touchline following an incident involving Roberto Firmino and Ander Herrera.

Spaniard Herrera prevented a Liverpool counter-attack by holding Firmino back, before the Brazilian retaliated by pushing him away.

Referee Michael Oliver booked both players for the incident, but not before the two managers rowed on the touchline.

“He thought I was asking for his player to be sent off. I wasn’t. There was no problem at all,” Mourinho insisted.

“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.

“There was aggression but it was good so I think it was great publicity for the Premier League all around the world.”

Klopp added: “He [Mourinho] wanted the minimum of a yellow card, I don’t know. 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. He could have passed the ball but 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 [him and Mourinho] could not have the same opinion in this moment.”