Liverpool star reacts to on-field spat with father-figure Klopp

Liverpool star Sadio Mane has insisted that there is no problem between him and Jurgen Klopp, claiming that the Reds boss is like a father figure to him.

Mane and Klopp were spotted rowing on the Anfield pitch after the German boss only introduced winger – who has only recently returned from a hamstring injury – in the 89th minute of the clash against Chelsea.

After starting and scoring in the 3-0 win at Stoke last week, Mane was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 5-1 mauling of Brighton, as Klopp looks to ease him back into action.

He is expected to start in Wednesday night’s crucial Champions League clash against Spartak Moscow at Anfield, and he insists there’s no problem between him and Klopp.

Speaking to former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas for the French publication SFR , Mane said: “Jurgen Klopp is like my father.”

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Klopp sought to clarify why he was rowing with Mane after the Chelsea game, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

“I was shouting at him because he was in the centre,” he said. “But no player’s happy about that when you come on to the pitch with three minutes left and you feel like you’ve got 150 minutes in your legs already.

“I wanted to sort it immediately. He was not happy and said to me ‘Mo (Salah) wanted to come in the position’ but Mo already had 90 minutes in his legs.

“So it would have made more sense that Sadio was close to the right wing and starts from that position.

“It’s not a big thing, we could have done it in the dressing room, it would have been the same thing. Everything is sorted immediately.”