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Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp reveals real reason behind Xherdan Shaqiri confrontation
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed the real reason he was seen shouting at Xherdan Shaqiri after the defeat to Chelsea.
The Reds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup this week, losing 2-1 to Maurizio Sarri's side at Anfield.
Liverpool boss Klopp entered the pitch at full-time and was visibly angry at Shaqiri, who came as a substitute in the second-half.
But the German insists he was only telling the Swiss star that he should have taken a free-kick instead of Jordan Henderson in the closing stages.
“Very good. Very, very good," he told reporters when asked about Shaqiri this morning.
German newspapers said I had an argument with Shaqiri on the pitch
"When he came in, that was what I wanted from him, to be completely free and just play football.
“I didn’t want to fill him with information about the way he defends, I wanted him only to play football.
"German newspapers said I had an argument with Shaqiri on the pitch.
"I didn't. It was only about that free-kick."
Shaqiri has corroborated Klopp's story, telling the Evening Standard: “He was not intense or shouting something.
“It was just a tactical thing, like something off the free-kick we should do better.
“In the end, Jordan took the free-kick and it was maybe not the best solution we did there.”
Klopp will be itching to get his revenge of Chelsea tomorrow but admitted he was happy with the way his side played on Wednesday.
"We had 5 players with their first start of the season v Chelsea," he added.
"It was a really difficult task. I was happy how we adapted in the game.
"We had the bigger chances but we lost it.
“We are competitive. That’s what we have to show again.
“The Chelsea game was a very interesting game.
"We needed time to adapt without the ball. It felt like things weren’t comfortable.
“It was because of little, little details. It was a big challenge for the boys.”