Jurgen Klopp had his first taste of managerial confrontation, against seasoned campaigner Tony Pulis, during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion. But after the game both managers played down the issues.
Dejan Lovren’s injury proved to be the boiling point in a tense game, as he was hurt in a wild tackle by West Brom’s Craig Gardner, which prompted Jurgen Klopp to express his fury on the touchline and at the West Brom staff. Divock Origi’s late equalizer was also greeted with wild abandon by Klopp as he got in the face of the West Brom staff and refused to shake Tony Pulis’ hand after the match.
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No hard feelings Tony
Klopp decided not to make much of the altercation after the match and said that the circumstances of the match did not allow him to be his usual friendly self.
“I didn’t see him after the game. I can say nothing,” Klopp said, according to skysports.com. “We had some words in the game; sometimes it takes more than a few seconds to cool down. If you want to make a big story, then please. Sometimes it is like this. Usually I shake hands; I did not today because it was not a friendly game.”
Results matter more than egos
Tony Pulis, on his part, summarily dismissed talk of the bust up and said that he was more disappointed at not coming away from Anfield with all 3 points.
“He has got to do what he has got to do, I am more disappointed about the way they came back to make it 2-2. He is animated. I have been animated all my life on the bench. I have no problems with that.
“We have come here, tried to be resilient. I don’t think there was a booking during the game. The big disappointment was they got that goal.”