Mikel Arteta & Jurgen Klopp physically restrained during angry confrontation

Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp had to be physically restrained during a confrontation in the first half of Liverpool's 4-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday evening, with both managers cautioned by referee Michael Oliver.

The flashpoint came as a result of not much of anything.

Arteta took exception to the way Liverpool forward Sadio Mane challenged Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, annoyed at what he thought was an elbow on his player.

Klopp reacted to his opposite number and they furious pair were pulled away from each other before things could get really ugly by their respective backroom teams.

It was 0-0 at the time, but Mane went on to give Liverpool the lead shortly afterwards. Diogo Jota doubled that advantage soon after the half-time interval, while goals later on in the second half from Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino took the game away completely away from Arsenal.

The result ensures that Liverpool return to winning ways after dropping points against Brighton and West Ham in their last two Premier League games. The Reds are just about keeping pace with leaders Chelsea at the top of the table, reducing the gap back to four points after it had been extended to seven by virtue of the Blues playing earlier in the day.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have lost for the first time since August. Arteta’s side had taken 20 points from a possible 24 since then and remain three points outside the top four.

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