Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has “done Pep Guardiola a favour” in the Reds’ draw at Manchester City on Saturday.
This is according to BBC Sport pundit Izzy Christiansen, who noted how the Liverpool boss held Darwin Nunez back during an exchange with Guardiola.
The City manager was caught on camera seemingly having an argument with Nunez after the final whistle in the 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
After Guardiola shook hands with Klopp, Nunez and the City boss briefly shook hands before Klopp and his assistant, Pep Lijnders, moved to diffuse the situation.
The Liverpool striker and the Citizens boss were then seen exchanging words from a distance as Klopp tried to keep his player at bay.
‘Frustration’
“I think Jurgen Klopp has done Pep Guardiola a favour there,” Christiansen said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I think that is frustration from Guardiola and fundamentally Liverpool are very happy with a point here.”
Liverpool were definitely the happier of the two teams, returning to Anfield with a point from the toughest fixture in English football.
It was a good reward for the Reds’ perseverance, while the Citizens will be gutted for failing to make the most of their opportunities.
Both Guardiola and Klopp played down the exchange between the City boss and Nunez at the end of the game, so it’s unlikely we’ll find out what was said.
Nevertheless, it was good of the Liverpool boss to defuse the situation, both for the sake of his striker and that of his opposite number. Stopping things from escalating is always a good shout.