Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool manager defends Sadio Mane’s diver accusations as big joke
- Jurgen Klopp saw his side lose a chance to go three points clear on the Premier League standings
- The German tactician watched haplessly as Southampton defeated Liverpool 1-0
- A stunning second-minute goal by Danny Ings was all the Saints needed to claim all three points
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Liverpool were handed a stunning 1-0 defeat by Southampton at the St Mary’s in a highly entertaining Premier League clash on Monday night, January 4.
The angry Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp blasted the referee for ignoring calls for a penalty after Sadio Mane went down the turf inside the opposition area.
Klopp believes his side should have been awarded, at least, a three spot kicks over the course of the 90 minutes following two incidents on the Senegalese as well as one for a handball in the box.
Right after the game, the furious manager responded to critics who claimed Sadio Mane went down too easily as he appeared to have dived.
Klopp said, as cited in Sky Sports
"The best situations were when Sadio had the ball. Anyone who ever again says Sadio Mane is a diver is the biggest joke in the world.
"This boy tries to stay on his feet. There were two situations where other teams will get a penalty for it.
"The handball, I do now know who will explain that to me."
Meanwhile, his Southampton counterpart Ralph Hasenhuttl was however overwhelmed with emotion after his side dealt the defending champions a huge blow.
Source: Getty Images
Moments after the final whistle Ralph Hasenhuttl went on his knees in tears at winning against someone he considers a role model in Jurgen Klopp.
A clever chip from Danny Ings as early as the second minute of the game proved to be the decisive moment as some heroic Southampton defending coupled with lackluster performances from the Reds at times ensured all three points went to the hosts.
Legit.ng earlier reported that Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has been backed as the favourite candidate to replace under-fire Frank Lampard at Chelsea.
The 42-year-old has come under immense pressure in recent weeks after leading the Blues to a poor run of results.
Lampard's men on Sunday evening, January 3, continued their disappointing streak in the Premier League as they suffered a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Man City.
Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne all scored a goal apiece to guide City to a comprehensive win, with Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring the home side's consolation.
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