Jurgen accepts Sadio ‘waste’
JURGEN KLOPP says he knew Liverpool’s appeal to reduce Sadio Mane’s three-match suspension would be “a waste of time”.
Mane was shown a straight red card in Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat by Manchester City on Saturday after his high boot caught goalkeeper Ederson in the face.
Liverpool’s excessive punishment appeal was rejected following a hearing by an independent regulatory commission.
The Senegal striker will now be suspended for Premier League matches against Burnley and Leicester, plus a trip to the latter in the EFL Cup.
Mane will be available for Liverpool’s opening Champions League fixture against Sevilla tonight, and speaking on the eve of the match Klopp admitted he knew the appeal would end in failure.
“I didn’t expect something different,” said the Liverpool manager. “It was really our duty to appeal. But it was a waste of time, obviously.
“Our appeal was right because I could have said we had appealed the red card but we didn’t.
“We only appealed the length of the suspension. I never thought it would happen but only because I’m used to things like this.
“There were a lot of situations which were similar.
“All the other players were lucky, only Sadio was not lucky. And obviously Ederson was not lucky.
“It looks really awful and he was also lucky