Klopp accepts fine but no regrets

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has accepted a misconduct charge for running on to the pitch to celebrate with goalkeeper Alisson Becker after Divock Origi scored a 96th-minute winner against Everton at Anfield last Sunday.

“Absolutely OK, to be honest. I couldn’t avoid it obviously, but that’s what the rules are for and, if you break rules, you have to be punished,” said Klopp who has been fined £8,000 and warned about his future conduct.

Klopp reacted in a similar way while manager of Mainz 14 years ago and on that occasion tore a hamstring while celebrating.

“That (pulling his hamstring) was with a jump at Stuttgart. That time I jumped in front of the opposite dugout but nobody thought it was disrespectful. It’s just a cultural thing.”

Asked whether he would do it again, considering the circumstances and emotion of a Merseyside derby, he added: “Not in the next 14 years!

“I didn’t want to do it and I can say it won’t happen again. It was not on my radar that it was still possible. We make mistakes, but usually I learn from it. At least over a long period.

“It’s not a massive mistake. If there was no rule against it, managers would constantly celebrate on the pitch and you would say, ‘That’s nice’ (and) the whole bench would run there.

“I don’t think anybody thought it’s massively wrong or whatever – not even the ref,” added Klopp as he turned his focus to tonight’s match against Burnley .

The Clarets have made life difficult for Liverpool recently, with three of their previous six matches settled by one goal and their last meeting – on January 1 – won by Ragnar Klavan’s added-time strike.

The trip to Turf Moor will be the second game in a run of 10 matches in five weeks for Liverpool and Klopp is expected to make changes.

A couple may be enforced as Sadio Mane sustained a cut foot against Everton, while Andrew Robertson also shipped a knock. ( © Daily Telegraph, London).