No arguments over coach keeping out of trouble

STEVE Bruce ‘used to take on anyone’ when he was younger but the Newcastle United head coach joked he is now ‘frightened’ he will be beaten up if he gets into a touchline row like Frank Lampard did with Jurgen Klopp.

Lampard had choice words for Klopp and his staff during Chelsea’s 5-3 defeat against Liverpool on Wednesday night and, after the game, the Blues’ boss warned the champions not to ‘get too arrogant’ in one of his post-match interviews.

Although Lampard has since admitted he ‘regretted’ the language he used on the touchline at Anfield, Klopp took exception to the comments he made and said his opposite number ‘has to learn.’

Bruce has had his own moments over the years - once having to be restrained by the linesman as he squared up to Gus Poyet - and had an amusing response to Lampard and Klopp’s spat.

When asked why he did not have quite so many clashes anymore, he said: “I am frightened now that I will be beaten up.

“I am too old to take them on. In my younger days I used to take on anyone!

“Look, it is part and parcel of it. It shows that little bit of hunger and there is nothing wrong with it. It is a bit box office.”

Newcastle welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park today for the final game of a mammoth campaign which started way back on August 11. Bruce plans to give his staff and players a few weeks off before they return to Benton for testing next month after what the 59-year-old admits has been a ‘long road’ of a season.

The fact one of his most memorable moments in charge, a 1-0 win against Manchester United, came just a week after one of his lowest, a 5-0 drubbing at Leicester, sums up what an unpredictable campaign it has been.

Bruce added: “We had 10 men and I know we should have done more but to be fair, apart from the last week, Leicester have been in the top three in the Premier League all season.

“So they are a very good team but it was one of the darker moments.

“The one thing this squad has had the ability to do, after a poor showing, is show a bit of resilience.

“We have done OK. The football has not been great at times, let’s be honest, but that is where we are at.”