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Klopp, Solskjaer continue rowing over penalties before Liverpool vs. United game
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Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, looks on in the UEFA Champions League game against Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2021. /CFP

Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, looks on in the UEFA Champions League game against Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2021. /CFP

A penalty row between Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, and Ole Solskjaer, manager of Manchester United, continued to brew ahead of the two teams' meeting at Old Trafford on Sunday,

"I have nothing really to say about it, but I think in between what Ole said and what I said, they had five penalties and we had two," said Klopp at a press conference on Friday.

"Still, we all know that the refs cannot be influenced by things like that. But having the amount of penalties United had is quite exceptional. They are really good, they go in the box, they have these kind of situations. But we have them as well and got not even a similar amount of penalties. But it's facts, it's done. Nothing else to say about it."

The German manager was responding to Solskjaer's remarks in September when the Norwegian said he noticed a "big difference" in spot-kicks after he complained about the same issue in January.

"We should have had three penalties in the last two games. There was a certain manager who worried about us getting penalties last year and after that the decisions were difficult to give. I've seen a big difference since then on. We have to leave it to the referees to make the right calls," said Solskjaer.

Ole Solskjaer, manager of Manchester United, looks on in the UEFA Champions League game against Atalanta at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, October 20, 2021. /CFP

Ole Solskjaer, manager of Manchester United, looks on in the UEFA Champions League game against Atalanta at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, October 20, 2021. /CFP

On January 4, Liverpool lost to Southampton 0-1 at St Mary's Stadium. Klopp said United "had more penalties in two years than I had in five-and-a-half years." Last season, Liverpool were awarded six penalties while United got 11.

Every time the Reds (Liverpool) meet the Red Devils (United), an eye-catching competition is expected on the field. Currently Liverpool are 5 (win)-3 (draw), ranking second on the Premier League table but they have played one less game than the leading Chelsea.

United are 4 (win)-2 (draw)-2 (loss) and sixth on the table. Considering their heavy investment during the last transfer window and their expensive salaries, it's not an acceptable record for the team.

"We all know how football is. United is a massive game, we know they are able to do incredible stuff, but we try to focus mainly on ourselves," said Klopp.

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