Koeman hits out at 'crazy' Liverpool bench

Liverpool (AFP) – Everton manager Ronald Koeman branded Liverpool’s back-room staff “crazy” following his side’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

“It’s all about football, but we don’t make a show from the bench like Liverpool. It’s football — a hard and fair game,” Koeman told Sky Sports.

Liverpool’s dug-out protested after Everton midfielder Ross Barkley was only shown a yellow card for a crude, high challenge on Dejan Lovren late in the first half at Anfield.

“I don’t like coaches from the bench the whole time shouting to referees and linesmen, making a big show about tackles,” Koeman said. “They were crazy.

“They didn’t need the physio on the pitch. It’s a man’s sport.”

He added: “From both sides I saw tackles that were maybe more than a yellow. According to the bench of Liverpool — I don’t mean the manager — the referee should have shown eight red cards.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to be drawn on Barkley’s challenge on Lovren.

“I’m still a kind of a guest in this country. How can I decide what is OK and what is not OK?” he told the BBC.

“My opinion is that the players should leave the pitch healthy and fit, but not injured. It’s not my job to judge it. If you saw something — say it. If not be quiet.”

Goals from Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi gave Liverpool victory, with Matthew Pennington briefly drawing Everton level in the first half.