| Sadio Mane (right with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp) was later comforted in the away dugout by James Milner and Roberto Firmino |
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp played down striker Sadio Mane’s reaction after being substituted in the 3-0 win at Burnley, and then praised his forward line for helping the club achieve a 13-match winning run in the Premier League.
The incident involving the Senegal international occurred in the 85th minute with the Reds 3-0 up. As Mane walked off he made a gesture to the bench and continued to be animated as he sat down, seemingly frustrated at fellow forward Mohamed Salah’s decision not to pass to him in the opposition area moments earlier.
The German boss laughed off the incident, and said: “But it’s good eh? He was upset, it was obvious.
– Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
“Sadio cannot hide his emotions, I like that. But all sorted. We spoke about it and everything is fine.
“We are individuals, we are emotional. It was a situation in a game. What else could have happened? It was not a phone call.”
Mane, Roberto Firmino and a fluke own goal helped the Reds maintain their 100% start to their Premier League campaign.
The Clarets had fought toe-to-toe with last season’s runners-up until the 33rd minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s seemingly intended cross to the far post brushed the back of Chris Wood and sailed over the head of the stranded Nick Pope in goal.
Another piece of misfortune occurred soon after the restart. This time Burnley skipper Ben Mee inadvertently found Reds forward Firmino with a short pass; he then found Mane who fired low past Pope.
There were few chances after the break, but Liverpool converted the clearest of them when Firmino fired in from the edge of the area after he was teed up by Salah.
Klopp said he was surprised the league leaders had extended their winning streak, because none of his front three had a full pre-season – both Mane and Salah played at the African Cup of Nations, while Firmino competed at the Copa America.
“If you ask me four weeks ago I wouldn’t expect it would happen,” said Klopp.
“We had a tricky pre-season. No pre-season for the front three but they still deliver. So far, so good.”
His Reds go into the international break with as many points and in the same position as the corresponding period last season.
Burnley, who have now won just two of their past 17 matches against Liverpool in all competitions, drop down to 11th in the table.
BBC