Klopp explains angry reaction to Kovac at full-time of Liverpool-Bayern clash

The managers got caught up in a touchline tussle after the goalless Champions League draw at Anfield, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding

Jurgen Klopp has explained his angry reaction to Niko Kovac at the end of Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

The Reds boss was visibly angered when he spoke to his Bayern counterpart after the final whistle of the goalless first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Klopp shouted and gestured after shaking hands with Kovac, who pulled the German's arm to remonstrate with him on the touchline before the Liverpool coach went on the field to speak to his players.

The issue turned out to be a misunderstanding, as Klopp wanted to shake hands with his opponent before going to embrace his players, whereas Kovac did it the other way around.

When the situation came up in his post-match press conference, however, Klopp insists he was not as angry as he appeared as Kovac apologised for his ignorance.

Asked if he was angry at the full-time whistle, Klopp replied: "No, no, no. I wanted to shake Niko’s hand immediately and then he went in the crowd of his players. Then, when he came back, I said: 'I am waiting' and he apologised."

Kovac, meanwhile, saw the funny side of the incident and says he will be doing the same thing after the second leg in Munich on March 13.

"That was funny. We were on English soil. In Germany it is normal when games end, you shake hands with your players," he said. "In England, first the coaches shake hands so I did what I did in Germany, said sorry and made up for it and, in Germany, we will do it as we do it in Germany."

Klopp may not have looked happy after the game, but the coach insists he is "absolutely OK" with Tuesday's goalless draw, even if he has come to expect better from his team.

"It was like this. It was a big fight. I can't remember chances in the second half for both sides," he said. "The tie is not over. We had to create a basis which we can use in the second leg. From a result point of view, it's absolutely OK. It's not a dream result but it's a good one and we can work with that."

Liverpool are in action again on Sunday when they take on Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford.