Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard were embroiled in a heated exchange of words on the Anfield touchline and has dismissed his touchline ‘fight’ with the Chelsea boss as part of being ‘in the game’ as Liverpool managed to subdue a determined Chelsea side with a 5-3 win at Anfield, after which the Reds joyously lifted the Premier League title.
Klopp and Lampard’s bust-up occurred during the first half of the match after the Chelsea boss strongly disapproved of a free-kick given against Blues midfielder Mateo Kovacic who was booked for a controversial foul on Sadio Mane, as it looked like he did get the ball, hence the heated exchange of words between the Chelsea and Liverpool benches.
Lampard was infuriated by Reds assistant coach Pep Ljinders, but also directed some heated words at Klopp.
The Liverpool boss said after the game that he hadn’t expected himself to be so emotionally involved in the game and for his team to put in such tremendous shift, with nothing on the line for them and the pressure was on Chelsea still fighting for Champions League qualification. However, he was thrilled to be lost in the moment, secure the wild win, and said the barney with Lampard was all part of the excitement.
“I can say in the [pre-match] meeting whatever I, want I said a lot of stuff today,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“It was a free choice. If you want to win you have to work hard. You don’t care? You don’t have to go out because Chelsea is too good and their target is too high for what they do.
“And then going out and playing a game like that I surprised myself to be honest. ‘How can you put a shift in like that in a situation like this? ‘I was angry during the game and my plan was not to be angry. I was really…I had a fight with Frank Lampard stuff like this.
“We don’t plan this it’s just we are in the game and 5-3 is a perfect result to be honest.”
Salt was subsequently rubbed into the wound for Lampard as Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in a splendidly contoured free-kick after the Kovacic foul to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead. The Reds bench instantly reacted by celebrating raucously, but Klopp immediately poured oil on the ruffled waters by telling them to calm down. After the match, both the German and Lampard appeared to have buried the hatchet as the Chelsea boss was seen congratulating Liverpool’s title winners in the dressing room.
Oh well, all’s well that ends well.