Jurgen Klopp reveals he argued with Liverpool fan because 'I want us all to stay calm and enjoy this'

Speaking after the game, Klopp said there was a tendency among all observers to 'panic' and lose their cool, including the fan he responded to

Jurgen Klopp struck an animated, and at times frustrated, figure on the touchline (Getty)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended his decision to remonstrate with one of his own side’s supporters on Tuesday night, saying that he had told the individual to keep his nerve, as he now wants all the club’s fans to do.

Klopp - who suggested that the 1-1 draw with Chelsea keeps his side in contention at the top of the table and “still part of the league” - said there was a tendency among all observers to “panic” and lose their cool, including the fan he responded to.

The individual in question had complained about a back pass when Klopp turned back to challenge him, prompting further rebuke of the German from higher up the stand. “[I said] ’keep your nerve please,’” said Klopp, whose club have secured a £2m loan fee from Crystal Palace for defender Mamadou Sakho. “[I said] ’What do you want?' It was only one [fan], by the way, [that I made] eye contact with – blue check [shirt], maybe that explains a lot! I just want to say: ‘Please can we be really strong?’”

On a night of intense emotion at Anfield, where Liverpool were seeking to avoid their first four-game home losing streak since 1923, Klopp also remonstrated with the fourth official and afterwards volunteered an explanation of this, in which he said he had apologised.

“'Nobody can beat us’ was what I said [to him],” Klopp said. “I was the wrong person to say it. I said I was a bit excited. He said: ‘No problem.’” Write what you want but that’s the truth.”

After conceding a goal and a penalty, Liverpool had grounds to consider the 1-1 draw a good result, with Klopp punching the air afterwards, and the manager said his fourth-placed side can generate an “outstanding” remainder of the season from this platform.

“We were aggressive, red shirt, readiness, passion, will, greed against experience and coolness. That’s quite difficult,” Klopp said. “I’m really fine with the performance. It gives a little sign that we are still part of the league, playing football and sometimes really good.

“At this club we need to learn - in a game like this we need to learn - to keep our nerves. Now let’s play 15 games with all [we] have – a full squad. Let’s go for it. Stay cool. We work really hard. As long as the club keeps the nerve, the kind of power we can generate is outstanding. Stay cool and let’s see what fun we can have at Liverpool. Let’s go for it. Let’s see where it ends.”

Klopp eased fears that returning striker Sadio Mane might be injured, after seemingly pulling up in training and having an ice pack on his left knee at half time. “He said it was all good - recovery prevention, cold and hot [applications].”

The manager was keen to avert criticism of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for a freak first half mistake in which he conceded a David Luiz free kick while looking away to line up his wall. “We are not talking about the goalkeeper for one month, [now] probably you are ready to talk [about him],” he said. “But Si saved the penalty.”

Diego Costa looked for a soft penalty by falling in the box under Joel Matip and gaining one but, Klopp, who embraced the Chelsea striker at the end, also said it was a foul Costa had committed before the saved spot-kick which had frustrated him.

“I saw Joel’s reaction,” Klopp said. “It was foul before from Costa in my opinion - that’s what I was a little bit angry about. What Conte is doing at Chelsea is outstanding but think of Chelsea without Costa this season. I don’t know if there was anything [provocative from him.] I saw no real big incidents and as long as any one tells me, there was nothing. We showed respect [at the end].”