Jurgen Klopp admits he “lost it” as he apologised for the first red card of his Liverpool tenure – and praised the “top performance” that saw his side stun Manchester City.
Klopp was dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor 10 minutes after Mohamed Salah had scored his 76th-minute winner in a dramatic Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds boss was ordered from the touchline having confronted fourth official Andy Madley after Salah was not given a free-kick despite appearing to be fouled by Bernardo Silva.
Passions ran high throughout the second half, sparked by City winger Phil Foden having a goal disallowed after a VAR check shortly after half-time.
And while contrite over his sending-off, Klopp outlined why he was so unhappy with the officiating.
“It is about emotion, of course,” said the Liverpool manager. “So red card, my fault, I went over the top in the moment. I don’t think I was disrespectful to anybody but if you look at the pictures… I know myself, I am 55 and the way I look at that moment is already worth a red card.
“I lost it in that moment and that’s not okay but a little bit as an excuse I would like to mention how can you not whistle that foul (on Salah), how on Earth is that possible?
“During the game I agreed with Pep completely that Anthony Taylor just let the things run, but why would you do that? I’ve heard now that people said it was Anfield that made the VAR decision. It is a foul on Fabinho. Is it not enough to pull someone down?
“And then Ali has the hand on the ball (when challenged by Erling Haaland), that’s a save or not?
“There was already that first moment where Pep and I were pretty animated for the same reason, we were not arguing with each other.
“And then I had the perfect view of the linesman (for the Salah incident), we were 1-0 up and you get a free-kick there or they counter-attack, and that’s pretty much a 100% difference. And that was the moment when I snapped. Again, I am not proud of it but it happened.”
Liverpool’s victory – their first over City in the Premier League in almost three years – moved them up to eighth place with 13 points after nine games.
And a delighted Klopp said: “I think on a normal day you should not even try against City, you have to play to your limits and further and that is what we did. We defended extremely well organised but in a very passionate way, we closed the right gaps and challenged in the right areas.
“But they still get through, and get to the touchline and have an incredible amount of players in the box, and how we defended the box and especially the six-yard box was absolutely exceptional.
“We all know the City goals when they arrive they are square passes in front of goal, and we defended that really well. It was a top performance from all the boys and that is why we could win it.”
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