Klopp explains touchline rant with Van Dijk after Liverpool failed to beat Brighton

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Klopp explains touchline rant with Van Dijk after Liverpool failed to beat Brighton

Liverpool head coach, Jurgen Klopp has played down his angry rant towards defender Virgil van Dijk following his side’s Premier League 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday.

During the match in the second half, Klopp could be seen berating Van Dijk from the touchline.

When asked about his tense exchange with the Dutch international, Klopp said at his post-match press conference: “I Don’t know 100 per cent.

“So, there is never one explanation, you cannot now make a massive story of that because I said before we didn’t defend the half-spaces right. That’s the problem.

“When the guy on the ball is not under pressure, you cannot have a high last line, so then the last line drops in that moment and all of a sudden, we put pressure on it and then they have to push up again.

“So, these kind of things, we have clear rules, clear moments for when we do what. It’s not an easy one.

“Now I know [what the exchange was about], it was the one where [Solly] March was pretty much the only player up-front for Brighton and Virgil was too far away.

“In that moment, it was about that, but yes, a normal coach-player talk.”

Recall that Liverpool appeared to be on course to secure all three points against Brighton as goals from Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane gave Klopp’s side a two-goal lead after 24 minutes in the first half during the encounter.

But Brighton fought back and was able to leave Anfield with a point, thanks to two goals from Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard.