Klopp keeps the peace
JURGEN KLOPP was cast in the unlikely role of peacemaker at the end of Manchester City’s draw against Liverpool with Pep Guardiola and Darwin Nunez squaring up to each other in a heated exchange.
‘I love them both and so I tried to calm the situation down. I was absolutely not involved, surprisingly!’ he said.
‘I am not sure I am the right one to explain it without knowing 100 per cent what happened because I didn’t understand a word.
‘It was emotion. Pep wants to win, we want to win.
‘Both didn’t win so obviously nobody was really happy and these things can happen. It was nothing to do with this historical fierce rivalry between the clubs — I don’t think Darwin knows anything about that.’
Spanish speakers Guardiola and Nunez jabbed fingers at each other after Liverpool ended City’s 23match winning streak at home in the Premier League.
Guardiola wouldn’t shed any light his dispute with Nunez either but joked that Klopp must be stronger than he was for being able to drag the player away.
‘Nothing happened. I wasn’t frustrated, I am incredibly pleased with our performance because we know after seven years how good and tough Liverpool are,’ said the City boss.
‘When they run it is heavy metal and when Mo Salah gets touches, he never loses the ball.’
Haaland, in scoring his 50th Premier League goal in 48 games, took 17 fewer matches than the next quickest player to reach a half century, Manchester United’s Andrew Cole.
‘Only 50,’ Pep quipped. ‘It is incredible. He nearly scored a second goal, a deflection and good save, and after Liverpool scored to equaliser. Football is about these fine margins.’
City also had a Ruben Dias goal ruled out for offside when Manuel Akanji fouled Alisson. The Liverpool keeper had a muscular problem by the end of the match and will have a scan.