Jurgen Klopp has been charged with misconduct for his celebrations after Liverpool’s dramatic Merseyside derby victory against Everton at Anfield.
Divock Origi scored his first Premier League goal since August 2017 to give Liverpool a dramatic Merseyside derby victory in the 96th minute no less on Sunday afternoon.
But it was Jurgen Klopp’s celebration, rather than Origi’s instinctive header, which has dominated much of the post-match coverage. The popular Liverpool boss celebrated with typical wild-eyed enthusiasm but, rather than embracing his own coaching staff, sprinted halfway across the pitch to home goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
As reported by the BBC, Klopp has accepted a misconduct charge, and a fine of £8,000, though some have argued that the German deserved a heavier punishment given that other, less ‘affable’ managers, such as the one currently smouldering at Old Trafford, would have been treated very differently.
And, speaking to The Mirror (4 December, page 49), former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has now given his two cents – and believes that we shouldn’t go overboard on an incident that has perhaps received far too much coverage already.
“The rules are the rules and Jurgen Klopp shouldn’t have been on the pitch. But the referee should have the ability to say ‘look, it was a last minute winner in a high-octane game between two great rivals, let’s put things into context and let this one slide’,” Collymore said.
“Klopp should be sent an email saying he’s getting away with it this time but, if it happens again, the governing bodies will have to take action.”
In Klopp’s defence, his manic celebrations were clearly a result of passion and unbridled relief rather than a bitter attempt to wind up his Everton counterparts and he was quick to apologise for his actions in the post-match interviews.
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