Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Frank Lampard and accusations of arrogance made by the Chelsea manager against his champions.
The title-winning Anfield manager has told his young counterpart that he must learn to leave on-field rows behind him, once the final whistle sounds.
Video has emerged since Liverpool defeated Chelsea in midweek showing Lampard engaged in a furious row with Klopp and his bench.
Lampard then accused the league champions of being “arrogant” in his post-match interviews – a charge to which the German has responded with an impassioned defence and advice for his rival.
Klopp said: “You cannot hit me and my bench with something like that because we are not arrogant.
“Frank was obviously in a really competitive mood and I respect that a lot. From my point of view in this sort of situation you can say pretty much what you want. For me, it is after the game it is completely over.
“I said a lot in the past because it is pure emotion, he came here to win the game or get a point, to make Champions League qualification, and I respect that a lot.
“But what he has to learn is to finish it with the final whistle and he didn’t do that. Speaking afterwards about it like this, that’s not okay.
“Frank has to learn this and he has a lot of time to learn as he is a young coach but that is what he has to learn.”
Video taken from the main stand at Anfield during Liverpool’s 5-3 win clearly show the Chelsea manager swearing at the opposition bench – and Klopp has no problem with such behaviour during the heat of contest.
Klopp added: “During the game, words used no problem at all but the final whistle … we are not arrogant, we are pretty much the opposite of.
“But in a moment like this, in an argument, you want to say something to hurt the other person. I have no problem with that but at the final whistle close the book and he didn’t do that and that is what I don’t like.
“The reason I speak now about it – because otherwise there would be no words but because he spoke after about it I feel the need to explain.”
Klopp, at 53, 11 years Lampard’s senior, admits learning managerial lessons the hard way goes with the territory and is a process he went through himself.
He said: “I respect all the other coaches. When you have a little look at yourself and know how outraged you can be in different situations.
“Because we all have our own subjective view on a situation: foul, no foul, handball, and you feel that it’s not fair and you feel you cannot wait until after the game.”
The Liverpool manager, preparing for the final game of the season at Newcastle on Sunday, also paid tribute to captain Jordan Henderson who was named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association on Friday.
And Klopp believes the midfielder has grown into the responsibility of becoming Liverpool captain better than any other player could have done.
Klopp said: “Over the years, he really found the perfect way to deal with all the situations which happen to you when you are the captain of such a big club. He grew with that role in an exceptional role.
“I cannot imagine another player who would have done it in this way, and that is what makes him the wonderful person he is today.
“He helped me from the first day and I tried to help him a little bit obviously, so it worked out pretty well. It’s a special achievement.
“He would have been my choice as well this year. Like I said, even in our team there have been exceptional performers the whole year, but the whole package – attitude and consistency – of Hendo was really special this year. I’m really happy for him.”
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