Juergen Klopp adopted the role of peacemaker on Sunday when the Liverpool manager stepped in to pacify Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto de Zerbi during an angry exchange with officials on the touchline of a 2-2 Premier League draw.
BRIGHTON – Juergen Klopp adopted the role of peacemaker on Sunday when the Liverpool manager stepped in to pacify Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto de Zerbi during an angry exchange with officials on the touchline of a 2-2 Premier League draw.
De Zerbi was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor in the 69th minute at the Amex Stadium for his remonstration as Brighton were denied a penalty after Kaoru Mitoma’s shot hit the arm of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
The Italian manager continued to protest after being booked, before Klopp intervened and attempted to calm him down.
“In the moment when he got a bit outraged I used my age and tried to calm him down,” 56-year-old Klopp, who has himself clashed with referees on numerous occasions in the past, told reporters.
“I just saw if I am in a moment like this, there’s a moment of no going back that appears.
“I think he was close to that and then I tried to calm him down. I am not sure if he needed it or not, you can ask him, but he probably told me something about the penalty, but I had no clue what he was talking about. I think he wanted a penalty …”
Asked about the incident, De Zerbi told reporters: “I love Klopp and he can do what he wants, because I have big respect for him and I consider him as one of the best coaches in the world.
“I like his behaviour and when he says something, 99 percent of the time I agree with him. In that situation, I think there was a clear penalty. I told the referee, I think in a good way, what I thought.”
Lewis Dunk scored with a deft volley to cancel out Mohamed Salah’s brace for Liverpool as the Seagulls came from behind to grab a 2-2 draw in Sunday’s match.
The home side took the lead in the 20th minute when Simon Adingra picked the pocket of former Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and fired home, but Salah levelled in the 40th minute, ending a flowing move with a trademark left-foot finish.
The Egyptian gave his side the lead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Dominik Szoboszlai was pulled down by Pascal Gross, and Salah struck his shot to the left of keeper Bart Verbruggen.
Substitute Ryan Gravenberch, who came on for Harvey Elliott at half-time, missed a golden chance to put Liverpool two up in the 54th minute when his close-range effort from Szoboszlai’s pass cannoned back off the crossbar.
Dutchman Gravenberch, who signed for Liverpool from Bayern Munich on the last day of the transfer window, made another fine chance in the 65th minute, but his shot lacked power and was easily saved.
Brighton had their chances in the second half and they howled for a penalty in the 69th minute as Mitoma cut in from the right and unleashed a shot which they claimed hit the arm of Van Dijk, but the referee disagreed.
Brighton forced an equaliser in the 78th minute when Andy Robertson decided against trying to clear Solli March’s free kick, allowing defender Dunk to volley home.
If Gravenberch’s miss was bad, Joao Pedro’s for Brighton in the 84th minute was arguably worse as he failed to hit the target from close range with the goal at his mercy, but the hosts held on for the draw to stay sixth in the table on 16 points, one behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
“I think we were the better side throughout and then we had a funny five minutes,” England international Dunk said. “We have got to be better than that. We have shown great character to come back and get the draw.”
Liverpool captain Van Dijk said his side were disappointed not to take all three points.
“We came here to win. I think we had opportunities to do so and in the end a draw, after a difficult game. Quite open at times. Quite even but looking at our team, we had opportunities to win,” he said.
– REUTERS
