Klopp admits he could have faced punishment

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp admits he may have been lucky to avoid punishment for his outburst at a fourth official but does not agree with Jose Mourinho the Manchester United boss is treated differently.

Klopp apologised following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea after a touchline exchange with Neil Swarbrick saw him vent his frustration at the award of a penalty to Diego Costa.

Simon Mignolet saved the subsequent spot-kick and Klopp shouted “No one can beat us” at the official who responded, according to the German, by saying “No problem I like your passion”.

After a goalless draw at home to Hull on Wednesday, an unhappy Mourinho suggested he was treated differently.

“Yesterday, one fourth official told a manager ‘I enjoy very much your passion, so do what you want to do’. Today I was told, ‘Sit down or I have to send you to the stands’. So everything is different for me,” Mourinho said.

Klopp believes everyone is treated differently because no two officials or managers are the same but accepts he was fortunate not to be pulled up.

“I think it depends on the fourth official. We all know what we can do,” said Klopp.

“When I saw the picture (of Klopp shouting at the fourth official) afterwards it didn’t look too nice but it was not as bad as it looked, so that is why I said what happened.

“Maybe I was lucky with what the fourth official said because I’ve never heard something like this. There are different ways to handle the situation.

“It’s an emotional game and to switch off emotions is not that simple. We struggle — not only myself and Jose but Arsene Wenger and a lot of other people struggle.”