Jurgen Klopp refutes Pep Guardiola's diving claim against Sadio Mane

Liverpool play Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, vember 10 (10:00 pm IST). top two sides in Premier League registered nail-biting 2-1 victories in ir respective games on Premier League Matchday 11. Liverpool netted a late goal in dying minutes of game through a Sadio Mane header, while Kyle Walker was on hand to deliver three points for Manchester City against Southampton. 

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Speaking after win against Southampton, Pep Guardiola said that when his players headed into locker room after ir win, Liverpool were level with Aston Villa. However, moments later it was 2-1, which meant Liverpool held on to ir six-point lead at top of table. Commenting on Liverpool's win, Guardiola said that Liverpool have a "special talent" of sorts, which sometimes means Liverpool players dive in order to secure wins or score incredible goals in dying minutes. Guardiola's comments referred to an incident wherein Liverpool's Sadio Mane went down in Aston Villa box after being pursued by Villa full-back Frederic Guilbert. Referee Jonathan Moss adjudged Mane to have dived and awarded a yellow card to Senegalese for simulation. 

Also Read | Pep Guardiola Accuses Sadio Mane Of Diving; Calls It 'Special Talent'

Jurgen Klopp defends Sadio Mane

Liverpool manr Jurgen Klopp also had a few words in response to Pep Guardiola's comments. Jurgen Klopp went on to say that he was t sure wher Guardiola referred to Mane, specifically, in his comments, or to Liverpool team as a whole. However, eir way, Guardiola's comments were "t too nice". Klopp also questioned timing of his comments, as he wondered how Guardiola was aware of incident that quickly after game, considering that City were still in action during incident. Klopp also took a subtle dig at Spaniard, stating that while he himself was t interested in such talk, he would avoid mentioning subject of tactical fouls. Pep Guardiola is kwn to have said that he does t set up his team in a way that would require his players to commit tactical fouls to break up play. However, in an interview with British media, new signing Rodri stated that he was learning to commit tactical fouls by Man City coaches during training. 

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Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker also leapt to defence of Sadio Mane. Alisson stated that Sadio Mane was a top player, and as such he agreed with Guardiola's assessment of same. However, Jurgen Klopp went on to say that Sadio Mane is t a player who is accustomed to diving in order to win a penalty. Klopp stated re was some contact, which was why Sadio Mane went down, however, incident may t have been a penalty. Klopp also said that if such an incident were to occur in favour of City, he was sure that City players would appeal for a penalty too. 

Pep Guardiola's comments come at a time when Manchester City are scheduled to visit Anfield on Matchday 11 of Premier League. current champions are six points behind Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. As such, visit to Anfield means that Man City will have an opportunity to cut Liverpool's lead to just three points. 

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