Mateo Kovacic was angrily confronted by Sadio Mane after the Croatian booted the ball at his head while he was down on the turf during Chelsea's 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Thomas Tuchel's men were on the way to inflicting a fifth-straight home defeat on Liverpool when the incident occurred.
After being shoved to the ground by Antonio Rudiger, Mane slid on the turf before having the ball thumped against his head at close range by Kovacic, which saw the Senegalese forward instantly confront him.
With Mane in his face, Kovacic appeared to laugh off the incident while a furious-looking Mane put his hands on the Croatian's neck before the two were separated in the heated exchange.
It was just another incident that compiled more misery on the Reds, who couldn't prevent a fifth-straight defeat at Anfield – the first time it has happened in Liverpool's history.
Mason Mount was the Blues hero having scored the game's only goal, firing home a superb individual strike late in the first half to extend the club's unbeaten run under boss Tuchel to 10 games.
The win for Chelsea sees them leapfrog Everton into fourth while Liverpool remain seventh – four points adrift of the Champions League places and currently in free fall.
Following the win, Tuchel hailed his 'courageous' side.
He told Sky Sports: 'We played with courage, had excellent moments with the ball, had moments we needed to suffer, never lost the attitude and desire and a deserved win and big performance.
'It was a very good team performance. They ask you a lot of questions and we need to have the answers.
'Everyone was very brave and everyone was sharp. It is a six-point game because the others lose. The race is on, there are still 11 games to go. We go step by step. We can never rest and never celebrate, there is no time.'
Lobos47
709
Mateo trying to knock some 'football sense' into Mané's head[Crylaugh]
jiuciknz
582
I cannot imagine the referee did not penalise Kovacic for his unsportsmanlike conduct. It was a provocative action and, if Mane hadn't been mature enough, it could have let to fisticuffs. I was disappointed by the match officials. In fact, I was made to wonder what would have happened if it was Mane that did what Kovacic did.
Richard360
534
I am a Chelsea fan but what Mateo did was unsportsmanlike and not necessary.
Brightberry
523
Meanwhile MENDY doing his thing!! All hail to the king of Clean Sheet
ishti
431
Kovacic be like:- I'm Mateo, and even Messi can't do anything about it then who are you? 😬
Newmanunited20
378
The ref did not blow his whistle at this point and kovacic was trying to continue the game and go over his head. Mane is acting irrational (go figure) and all football is looking for clickbaits!
kukdknoyz
358
Kovacic was reckless, unsportsmanlike, dangerous and out of order.
Cityzen4life
353
After going unbeaten at Anfield for 68 PL games , liverpool plan to lose 68 games at Anfield 😂😂😂
ishti
353
Thomas Tuchel has hailed N’Golo Kante following Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool on Thursday evening. He [Kante] is a gift. It’s incredible,’ Tuchel told RMC Sport after the game. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this. At training, in games, he never stops.
Andy_Mac
48
Mount always seems to fancy the "Frankenstein celebration" against Merseyside opponents
logobenz11
14
Mateo trying to knock some 'football sense' into Mané's head[Crylaugh]
knock sense into man utd head first
SonyMontana52
8
I cannot imagine the referee did not penalise Kovacic for his unsportsmanlike conduct. It was a provocative action and, if Mane hadn't been mature enough, it could have let to fisticuffs. I was disappointed by the match officials. In fact, I was made to wonder what would have happened if it was Mane that did what Kovacic did.
That is why you have no like because you didn’t watch the match. If you did you will know what happened to know it was not intentional as he was clearing the ball from the danger area