Jurgen Klopp is a 'soft German' according to Sam Allardyce after Liverpool beat Sunderland

Two managers ivolved in a row after Jermaine Lens' tackle on Mamadou Sakho

There is little love to be lost between the pair (PA)

Sam Allardyce blasted Jurgen Klopp as a "soft German" after the pair were involved in a heated exchange during Liverpool's 1-0 win at Sunderland.

Klopp was furious that Sunderland midfielder Jermaine Lens had not been sent off for a strong tackle on Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho.

The pair, and their back-room staffs, clashed on the sideline with police officers even stepping in to calm the situation - Lens was booked for the challenge but Klopp believed he should have seen red.

"Of course. This is a foul. That is not allowed. For me that is a red card, finished," Klopp said after the game.

"So my staff were emotional, the staff of Sunderland were emotional. If you look on your ticket, it is included. If nothing happens on the pitch, you can watch the bench."

Allardyce responded by saying: "He’s a soft German if that’s a red card. It’s a yellow, a foul.

"There was some foul and abusive language towards my staff that I didn’t like. After the end, it was alright though, because we all shook hands and got on with it, which is what you’ve got to do."

Christian Benteke, the £32million summer signing who has not always settled in under the new manager, scored his seventh goal of the season and his second winner in a row.


 Jermaine Lens was booked for the late tackle on Mamadou Sakho
 (AP)

"A striker who scores the decisive goal is always a positive thing. I’m sure Christian knows he can play better," Klopp said of the Belgian.

"But in this moment, we need his goals more than anything else and he did it again, so we are really happy. It is the best news that there is more to come.

"I am not too interested in how we won it. It is better if you decide a game early and things like this, but we are not in wonderland, where you can wait for the special moment. We have to work for the special moment.

"After half-time we scored and could have had a second one. We didn’t, so we had to concentrate until the end, but we deserved it."

Allardyce, who has now seen Sunderland lose each of their last five matches, believes his side didn't deserve to lose.

Christian Benteke scores the winner, his second in a week (EPA)

"I saw the lads go out and giving me some encouragement, keep the shape of the side, keep your determination and play against £300m worth of talent and in some spells matched it," he said.

"The only thing we need is somebody to put the ball in the back of the net and win a game to build the confidence.

"What you’ve got to do is play your best against Aston Villa next and win. That’s our real nerve tester now.

"We’ve got to be ready physically and mentally to make sure we’re the team that comes away with three points."