BERNSTEIN: Klopp & Arteta are the talk of the touchline during frenetic clash
Jurgen Klopp was sent crashing to the ground in his technical area, but it wasn’t because his tempestuous rivalry with Mikel Arteta had gotten out of hand.
Klopp’s fall was a result of colliding with his own player, Kostas Tsimikas. It was in keeping with a frenetic title clash at Anfield in which the two managers tried, but didn’t always manage, to keep their emotions in check.
Klopp and Arteta are the most animated managers in the Premier League and once squared up to each other during a game.
Arteta was also considered fortunate to escape FA punishment for his rant after Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle in November, while Klopp has a suspended ban hanging over him for a tirade at referee Paul Tierney last season.
With Anfield rocking, both managers were conscious not to let their antics come across badly to a worldwide global audience, but the drama meant they couldn’t contain their feelings. Neither man stayed on his best behaviour for 90 minutes, but it was good to see them share a hug at the final whistle.
Arteta was more expressive, though Klopp couldn’t contain himself in the second half with some imploring chats to the fourth official Craig Pawson.
The biggest call of the first-half saw Martin Odegaard stumble and handle the ball. Klopp was 60 yards away, but joined in Mo Salah’s appeal, putting his hands to his head. When Arsenal’s penalty shout arrived late on for a push on Kai Havertz, Arteta stretched his arms out to their full span.
Klopp finally snapped at the fourth official Pawson near the end when Salah disputed a foul and was cautioned for dissent. The German then punched the air in anger when the already-booked Bukayo Saka didn’t get a red card after slipping into Ryan Gravenberch.
Klopp had been seething from
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