Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss says Sadio Mane should not have been sent off
Last updated on .From the section Football
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said neither he nor Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola thought Sadio Mane should have been sent off in the Reds' 5-0 defeat at Etihad Stadium.
Senegal forward Mane was dismissed on 37 minutes after his high foot collided with the face of City keeper Ederson.
Ederson required lengthy treatment but returned to watch the final stages.
"I was outside with Pep and we both didn't think it's a red card," Klopp told BBC Sport.
Mane apologised on Instagam, writing: "I hope and wish Ederson a quick recovery. I am so sorry he was hurt during our accidental collision on the pitch and am sorry for him that he could not complete the match because of it."
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Guardiola said Mane's challenge "was not intentional" but the Spaniard himself refused to be drawn on whether or not the Liverpool player should have been sent off.
Instead, he compared the incident to City right-back Kyle Walker's recent dismissal for a second yellow card after catching Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the face.
"I can't think Mane is the sort of player to make a hard action against the goalkeeper's face," said Guardiola.
"He follows the ball and after that he found the action is dangerous - but I'm pretty sure it was not a red card for Walker against Everton."
Klopp added Mane "didn't see" the onrushing Ederson as he was focusing on the ball and their "unlucky" collision was "an accident."
"I'm sure enough people will find a reason to say it's 100% a red card," said the German. "Sadio is very, very upset. He was shocked about the situation.
"In the game everybody thought the goalkeeper was seriously injured - I'm not sure what happened but he was running around after the game so not as serious as everybody thought."
Brazilian Ederson later posted a photo on social media of himself making a thumbs up gesture, with a dressing covering a cut on the right side of his face.
"He's not broken the bone we think and that is so important," said Guardiola.
"I don't think he will be more beautiful after that but hopefully he can come back soon."
'City shouldn't take too much confidence from this'
Both managers warned against reading too much into one title favourite thrashing another, with the match in the balance - despite Sergio Aguero's opener - before Mane's sending off.
"I was really angry at half-time - not because of the scoreline, not because of the red card - I was angry because I didn't see that we really understood we could have got everything," said Klopp.
He added Mane's red card was a "game-changer" but that even with his side down to 10 men and losing 2-0 at half-time he still "couldn't believe we had no chance anymore."
"I thought there was something to come but then the second half was not the biggest joy for any Liverpool fan and we say sorry for that," he said.
"If City take too much confidence from this game it would be a mistake and it we lost too much confidence it would also be a mistake."
Guardiola said the game was "tight" and "equal" before Mane's dismissal.
"After the red card it was different - I know it's not easy to play against 10, it's easier but not easy," he said.
"But we controlled the game and the second goal before half-time was so important."
Analysis
Former England captain Alan Shearer on Match of the Day
When he was on the pitch I thought it was a good performance from Ederson, he commanded his defenders and pulled off a very good save.
The law says if it endangers a players' safety it (the red card) is the right decision. Personally I would want and expect to see my players go for that all day long.
I would prefer to see red cards for intent and deliberate fouls. I know I would've gone for that ball. It is just unlucky.
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Glad the keeper is ok. Liverpool "fans" booing him as he was stretchered off was disgraceful.
I sit close to the away fans so I had a clear view and I can assure you of the following:
They were booing Ederson whilst he was down on the pitch receiving treatment, and whilst he was stretchered off.
It was a LOT of them, if not most.
Plenty thought it was hilarious.
Also if not a red card, why is he not going to appeal the decision.
City keeper is very lucky it wasn't more serious like a broken jaw.
Let's see how they like it...
Lack of malice or intent is not in question and irrelevant in any case. It was dangerous and The Laws of Association Football say that is a dismissible offence.
By the way - Without referee's, cops and headmasters the world would be a worse place; perhaps you should try one or even all three to see what a difficult and largely thankless job they do. They have my respect 👍
I wasn't aware that Shearer had any players as his venture into football management wasn't remotely adequate. How deluded.
I understand emotions run high after a game, but do the managers realise how stupid they make themselves look? It always seems like decisions against them were bad, decisions in their favour were good.
If I had behaved like that when I was working I would have been out the door.
It's a known rule that if a player raises his foot above the waistline it is an infringement. Not only did Mane do that but he struck the keeper in the face. It has to be a red
More importantly Loserpool were totally useless afterwards, Flopp has clearly lost the dressing room.
Mid table beckons, and to think, this WAS THEIR YEAR.
Laughable.