'Out of order': Liverpool player condemned over 'disgraceful' moment

Sadio Mane has faced the wrath of the football world after an extraordinary post-game snub of his Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds reignited their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League after a thrilling 4-2 win against bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

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It was the first time Klopp had tasted victory at United's famous home, with the fixture rescheduled after protesters got into the ground and onto the pitch 11 days ago.

Further demonstrations could not stop Thursday's Premier League fixture going ahead in Old Trafford's final match behind closed doors.

United missed this chance to all but end Liverpool's Champions League qualification hopes as their fourth match in eight days ended in a first home loss to their bitter rivals since 2014.

But what should have been a celebratory mood for Liverpool was soured by a post-match incident involving Klopp and Mane - who had been controversially left out of the starting XI for the visitors.

Mane has been an integral part of a potent Liverpool front-three that won a drought-breaking league title last year, and which also fired the Reds to the Champions League title in 2019.

Suffice to say, the Senegalese forward was not impressed about being benched against United, in what was a crucial game for Liverpool.

Mane showed his frustrations with Klopp in an eye-opening incident after the final whistle when he refused to shake his manager's hand.

Footage captured Klopp walking over to Mane with his hand gesturing towards the forward who shook his head and walked away, in a stunning snub for the manager.

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness, speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, lashed Mane over what he called an extremely "disrespectful" act.

"If I was the manager I wouldn’t be happy,’ Souness said.

"He should show a bit of respect. It’s disrespectful to the manager and the club.

"How can he argue? He’s not had a great season and Liverpool have won here 4-2."

Incensed fans also took to social media to slam the player's act of petulance.

Klopp tried to hose down the incident after the match, insisting there was "no problem" between him and Mane, despite suggestions to the contrary.

"Yesterday I made a late decision in training, pretty late," Klopp said in his post-match press conference.

"I changed Jota for Sadio. My players are used to that I explain that but I didn’t do that yet.

"So yes, Sadio was obviously slightly angry but that’s all."

Liverpool keep top-four hopes alive

Stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes' deflected effort had got Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side off to a dream start, only for Diogo Jota to level with a smart flick after a penalty decision was overturned.

The equaliser came from a corner and United's soft underbelly from set-pieces was again exposed in first-half stoppage time, with Roberto Firmino heading home Trent Alexander-Arnold's excellent free-kick.

Liverpool pulled further ahead 72 seconds after half-time as a comedy of errors at the back ended with Firmino turning home his second of the evening.

United looked punch-drunk but eventually rallied as Marcus Rashford reduced the deficit before Nat Phillips, who had deflected home Fernandes' opener, cleared a Mason Greenwood attempt off the line.

Mohamed Salah ensured United would lose their sixth home league game of the season, racing through at the death as Liverpool moved into fifth and four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand.

Klopp was delighted to bag all three points.

"Great fight, good game, intense - how a derby should be and our first, since I am in Liverpool, win at Old Trafford," he told Sky Sports. "Good timing I would say. We needed it, obviously, and we fought hard for it and deserved it, so all good.

"It was necessary. Without this result, we don't have to talk too much about it. We are still in the game and in the race. That is all we could do tonight and we did that."

Liverpool are now four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, but with a game in hand of the Blues.

Earlier, Everton's European hopes suffered a blow with a damaging goalless draw at Aston Villa.

The Toffees failed to find the win at Villa Park on Thursday which would have kept the pressure on the Premier League's top six.

They climbed to eighth, above Arsenal, to move two points behind fifth-placed West Ham.

with agencies

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