Senegalese star Sadio Mane was angry to start from the substitutes’ bench for Liverpool in Thursday’s 4-2 away win over Manchester United, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.
Klopp was speaking in a post-match interview at Old Trafford where Mane refused to shake hands with his manager Klopp at full-time while leaving the pitch.
“Yesterday I made a late decision in training, really late, and changed Diogo for Sadio and my players are used to it that I explain that but I didn’t do that yet… and in that moment I remembered it again, so yes, Sadio was obviously slightly angry, but that’s all,” Klopp told Liverpool website.
Mane threw his arm in the air and turned his back on Klopp who had extended his hand to shake hands with the striker.
The German coach had opted to start upfront with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firminho and Jota.
Salah and Jota scored once and Firminho brace.
Mane eventually replaced Jota in the 74th minute.
Overall, Klopp was pleased with Liverpool’s performance as they chase a top-four finish.
“The good thing is that we anyway play always to win the game, you just didn’t see that too often this season – but that’s more our problem than yours! But we don’t have to change the approach, no. The only thing we can do to get to the Champions League is to win all our games,” he told Liverpool media team.
The outgoing defending champions Liverpool moved to fifth place with 60 points from 35 games and they have one game in hand compared to fourth-placed Chelsea who have 64 points.
Starting XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Bailly, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes, Rashford, Cavani
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Williams, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Jota.