Hughton’s all for the emotions

CHRIS HUGHTON has leapt to Jurgen Klopp’s defence and insisted: Let’s not take emotion out of the game.

Brighton boss Hughton, famous for his steady persona on the bench, takes his team into a derby against Crystal Palace tonight with images of Klopp on his mind.

The Liverpool boss has been criticised for racing on to the pitch at Anfield on Sunday to celebrate a lastminute winner against Everton.

It must have brought back memories for Hughton because the Reds boss was so excited at winning 5-1 at the Amex last season that he forgot to shake his hand.

Klopp has since apologised – and Hughton doesn’t want football to make managers feel they can’t enjoy a victory.

He said: “I hope it doesn’t stop what we saw on Sunday because emotion is a big part of the game and you don’t want to take the emotion out.

“Jurgen is a very emotional coach and these things happen for that exact reason.

“It’s the last minute of a game and you’ve got to listen to what Jurgen said after, which was that he almost had no control of what he did.”

Tottenham’s players were also in trouble on Sunday, for celebrating one of their goals in front of Arsenal fans and causing a rumpus.

But Hughton has called for common sense and said: “If there was any wrong-doing, then the authorities should do the appropriate thing.

“But I wouldn’t want to stop it happening again, because that’s a big part of what we do in football.

“We certainly won’t make a bigger deal than we need to about it against Palace.

“Maybe this game has a bit more meaning, a bit more edge, but we won’t labour that. I am hoping we have things to celebrate.”