Managers are also 'human', can't help outbursts: Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that managers should be punished for disrespecting match officials, but added that the pressure and emotion of their jobs should be taken into consideration when passing judgments.

The German insisted that managers are also 'human beings' and, therefore, could not be expected to give guarantees about their behaviour because of the extreme pressure of the Premier League.

"Behind a manager is still a human being and we are all weak in parts...The problem is only that to know about it doesn't change the moment. That is why we accept the fines. To say we will never do anything like that last game - in this mood I can say 100 percent I won't do it but it would be a lie to give a guarantee that it would never happen again," the Guardian quoted Klopp as saying.

Klopp's comments came in the wake of his involvement in a confrontation with fourth official Neil Swarbrick during Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Chelsea. He was seen shouting "Nobody can beat us" in his face immediately after Simon Mignolet saved Diego Costa's penalty.

Reflecting on the incident, the 49-year-old admitted he was fortunate to escape a sanction for his outburst towards Swarbrick.

Klopp, however, defended his outburst, saying, it was due to the culmination of a series of poor decisions against Liverpool during a run of form that has left his team 10 points behind the league leaders, out of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup in quick succession.

"I really try to be nice but in moments where you feel it is not fair - I see the penalty and I thought: 'Yes, he can whistle it, there was contact' - but four days earlier [against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup] we had a situation that was much clearer and nobody whistled or spoke about it. You cannot change it but you cannot accept everything like it never happened," he said.

Klopp later said sorry to Swarbrick, who accepted the apology, and said he liked the former Borussia Dortmund coach's passion.

Liverpool, who are currently standing fourth in the Premier League, will now lock horns with Hull City on Saturday.