Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp accepts Sadio Mane appeal decision: 'I'm not sure if I'm disappointed. I didn't expect something different'
- Liverpool wanted to get Sadio Mane's suspension reduced to two games
- An independent committee rejected the club's appeal of the initial FA ban
- Jurgen Klopp says the decision was not a suprise but defended his player
Jurgen Klopp insisted he was not disappointed that Liverpool have lost their appeal to shorten Sadio Mane's ban and says the outcome was just as he expected.
An independent committee considered Liverpool's argument on Tuesday that the Football Association should cut the three-match suspension he was handed for the straight red card which followed his collision with Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson.
Liverpool made no attempt to get the red card overturned but they believed the punishment for an accidental collision was too much. However, after listening to the evidence, the Football Association confirmed that the appeal had been dismissed.
Jurgen Klopp says he was not disappointed at losing the appeal to shorten Sadio Mane's ban
Mane received a red card against Manchester City after clattering into Ederson
Klopp, who confirmed Loris Karius will start in goal against Sevilla when Liverpool return to the Champions League group stages tomorrow night, was ambivalent about the outcome and said the appeal amounted to a waste of time.
'I am not sure if I am disappointed. I didn't expect something different,' said the Liverpool manager.
'We appealed the length of the suspension. I never thought it would happen as I am used to things like this. There were a lot of situations in the last few weeks.'
Klopp accepted that Mane's looked bad but defended the intent of his player.
He added: 'It was unlucky. Absolutely unlucky. Not even a percentage of Sadio wanted to get the goalkeeper. But we cannot change this.
Liverpool boss Klopp accepted that Mane's looked bad but defended the intent of his player
'In sport, things like this can happen. I don't blame the referee for the decision. When he saw the boy bleeding, if I was in that position I would probably have made the same decision.
'What we tried to change was the ban. He already had half a game at City and instead of losing him for three and a half games, we thought two and a half would been… I think it would have been right decision to make it two.
'It was our duty to appeal but as I said after the game. It was a waste of time.'
Mo Salah has a virus but Klopp expects the winger to train normally on Wednesday but hinted that the Sevilla game might come too soon for Philippe Coutinho.
Klopp said: 'I could but I'm sure the Liverpool supporters around the world are ready to wait for another 24 hours. All the other information about the line-up, you have to wait until tomorrow.'
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