Jurgen Klopp Explains Confrontation With Brighton Boss

Jürgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference the last time Liverpool met Spartak Moscow in the Champions League two months ago was a bit odd to say the least, with the Russian journalists managing to frustrate the Reds manager with bizarre tabloid questions about which Liverpool players he was ‘in love with’ and his thoughts on Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

Back then in September, the normally affable 50-year-old finally ended up cutting short the questioning, labelling the whole affair “a waste of time” and walking out of the room in frustration.

With his side gearing up for tomorrow’s reverse fixture in which the Merseysiders need a win or a draw to progress to the knockout rounds, the media scrum earlier today became another opportunity to rattle the unflappable ‘Normal One’ with more irrelevant questions.

Fortunately, this time the furthest journalists managed to stray from the upcoming vital fixture was to ask about the testy exchange between Klopp and Brighton manager, Chris Hughton following Liverpool’s 5-1 win over the visitors at the weekend.

At the final whistle, the Reds boss had chosen to forego the traditional handshake between managers, choosing instead to dish out one of his famous hugs to Mohamed Salah. Hughton, understandably not in the best of moods after the hiding, appeared to take offense to the slight, sharing what looked to be a few choice words on the matter to Klopp’s astonishment.

However, the German was quick to seize the chance to make amends and explain the misunderstanding, “I have to apologize [to Chris Hughton], not for doing something wrong on purpose,” he said.

"I wanted to shake Chris' hand and Mo Salah came across, I gave him a hug, and Chris wasn't too happy. It was not on purpose and after the game I wanted to see him and I hope everything is fine.

"I would never be disrespectful in a moment like this. I can only apologize."

There you go. Done, dusted and no one walked out of the presser needing an Advil.