Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp explains Chris Hughton incident after Brighton win

The Liverpool manager left Hughton waiting for a handshake after Saturday's 5-1 win

Chris Hughton was unhappy with having to wait to shake Jürgen Klopp's hand (Getty)

Jürgen Klopp has apologised and explained why he failed to shake Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton's hand at the Amex on Saturday.

The Liverpool manager was criticised for keeping Hughton waiting after the final whistle while he congratulated his own players on an emphatic 5-1 victory.

Hughton was unimpressed with how long Klopp took to make the traditional post-match gesture, while pundit Garth Crooks complained that Klopp was “celebrating with his staff like it's the final of the Champions League.”

Klopp, however, said he did not mean to show any disrespect to Hughton and attempted to see his counterpart after the final whistle.

“It was just a misunderstanding, nothing else,” Klopp said. “Nobody asked me after the game so I couldn't kill the discussion. I have to apologise, not that I did something wrong on purpose, it just happened.

“I wanted to go to Chris and shake his hand, then Mo Salah passed my way and I gave him a hug. Chris wasn’t too happy about that in this moment.

“We shook hands, he said what he thought, and what I think as well: that I have to shake the hand of the manager first.

“After the game I went to see him. He was not there but I spoke to his assistant and I think and hope everything is fine.

“I was for sure one or two times in my life disrespectful but I would never be disrespectful in a moment like this. Apologies, that was not my intention.”