Koeman blasts Liverpool bench for trying to sway referee
EVERTON manager Ronald Koeman sparked a touchline row when he clashed with Jurgen Klopp’s assistant Zeljko Buvac during a volatile Merseyside derby.
Koeman exchanged heated words with Buvac on the touchline during Liverpool’s 3-1 victory and then again as the teams departed the field at the final whistle.
Speaking afterwards, Koeman suggested Buvac wanted ‘eight Everton players’ sent off as the challenges flew in.
Tempers flared after a late challenge by Everton’s Ross Barkley on Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in the first half.
On Sky Sports, former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness claimed Barkley deserved to be sent off and Jamie Carragher said the England midfielder was ‘very lucky’ to escape a red card.
Everton manager Koeman admitted his player merited two yellow cards but took aim at Liverpool’s backroom staff for their furious reaction to the challenge and tackles that followed.
‘I think it’s always a little bit different for the local boys in the Merseyside derby,’ Koeman said. ‘Maybe you are right that he deserved two yellows, maybe for the two tackles. But if I watch the bench of Liverpool and one coach (Buvac) looks like the referee has to show eight red cards to Everton. Please behave a little bit more. It’s making a show and I don’t like that.’ Jurgen Klopp defended his coach Buvac, who is normally more mild-mannered and is referred to as the ‘brain’ of the German’s backroom staff. He also insisted that his players were put at risk by some of Everton’s challenges.
Klopp said: ‘He (Koeman) didn’t tell anything to me, he shook hands with me after the game. My staff are fine, they are really good boys and have been here a long time. ‘We don’t ask for anything that is not right. Sometimes we have to tip the glasses possibly but sometimes it is pretty clear and we understand the game like this.
‘We want to be hard yes but also want players to leave the pitch without injuries. You cannot avoid all injuries in football but a few of them, you can avoid.’
Liverpool ran out easy winners with goals from Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi, with a youthful and depleted Everton side’s goal scored by 22-year-old defender Matthew
Pennington. Mane was forced off injured after 57 minutes and Klopp admitted he is unlikely to be fit for Liverpool’s home match against Bournemouth on Wednesday night.
Klopp said: ‘I saw him in the dressing room and he doesn’t look like he’s going to be ready for Wednesday. Obviously he is in pain but we will have to wait and see.’
Everton’s lengthy injury list will not ease up ahead of a visit to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening, with only winger Aaron Lennon in line to return to fitness.