Liverpool boss Klopp reveals he’ll hold talks with Mane

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he will hold talks with Sadio Mane after the clearly-irritated Liverpool forward snubbed a handshake from his manager following his side’s victory against Manchester United.

Mane, who was named on the bench for the fixture, refused to respond to Klopp’s approach after the final whistle at Old Trafford and was even caught on the television cameras walking towards the tunnel shaking his head.

Boss Klopp waved away the surprise snub in his post-match press duties, however, and has again played down the relevance of the incident ahead of Liverpool’s next game against West Brom.

‘I cannot make a bigger story of it,’ Klopp told reporters at his press conference.

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‘Football is an emotional game and people expect that we control our emotions always but it doesn’t work out that way. We will talk about it and everything will be fine.’

It is customary for Klopp to shake hands or bump fists with every player after matches and his treatment was no different in the minutes that followed a crucial three points which keeps Liverpool in the top-four hunt.

Klopp revealed afterwards that the reaction from Mane may have been down to a late decision to start Diogo Jota ahead of the forward.

And when it was put to him that similar treatment in other professions may well result in disciplinary action, Klopp was quick to highlight the glowing respect Mane has demonstrated for much of his Anfield career.

‘If somebody shows me five million times respect and one time not, what is more important?’ Klopp responded. ‘I hope for you that your boss, if you one time don’t show him respect, doesn’t forget the other stuff.’

He went on to add: ‘I can already see the headlines, but it is not about that. I am completely relaxed.

‘I am a completely normal guy. We will talk about it, and then everything will be fine.’

Irked Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, a former Liverpool manager, believes that Mane’s frustration showed disrespect to both Klopp and the club overall.

‘It’s disrespectful,’ Souness said. ‘It’s never happened to me but if I were the manager, I would not be happy.

‘I think he should have shaken his hand, he didn’t want to cuddle, but you should show a bit of respect. It’s most importantly disrespectful to the football club.

‘Yeah, he’s not happy at being left out, but can he really argue? He’s not had a great season.

‘How can he argue with the fact he’s been a sub and Liverpool have won 4-2 at Old Trafford, which is not a happy hunting ground for them?’