Jurgen Klopp has said he is neither happy nor relieved after learning his punishment for his red card offence against Manchester City.
The Liverpool manager was sent off in the closing stages of the Reds' 1-0 victory over the reigning Premier League champions, having yelled at the referee's assistant following a challenge between Bernardo Silva and Mohamed Salah. The German has avoided a touchline ban, though, with the FA handing him a £30,000 fine.
This means Klopp will be free to manage his team from the dugout on Saturday as Liverpool host Leeds United at Anfield. The former Borussia Dortmund boss addressed the situation in his pre-match press conference, revealing it was the first red card he has received in more than 20 years as a manager.
"I know what I said and from a further distance with a different face, it'd be fine (OK)," Klopp said. "The most expensive face in the world!
"A lot of money but it's invested in something good, which is fine. Never had a red before. I'm not happy or relieved, I was just waiting for the punishment."
The FA, in its own statement, described Klopp's behaviour as "improper". "This sanction is subject to appeal by either Jurgen Klopp or The FA following receipt of the independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons," the statement read.
There was a possibility of a one-game touchline ban for Klopp, who had overseen a victory over West Ham and a defeat at Nottingham Forest, as well as a Champions League win at Ajax, while waiting to learn his fate. His latest comments come after he showed contrition after the red card, while detailing a conversation he had with referee Anthony Taylor after the decision.
Was Klopp lucky to escape a ban? Have your say in the comments section
"It is about emotion of course so red card, my fault, I went over the top in the moment," Klopp admitted at the time. "I know myself, I am 55 and I deserve a red card. I lost it in that moment and it is not okay.
I was sitting after the game in the office of Anthony Taylor and spoke, completely calmly, about all the situations. How I saw the game, how he saw the game. It was a completely calm discussion. That's the situation. I got a red card and now we wait for the process."
Liverpool go into Saturday's game sitting eighth in the table, five points outside the Champions League places. They have scored 10 goals in their last two home games against this weekend's opponents, though, including a 6-0 victory last season. Leeds go into the game in 18th place, having not won a league match since their 3-0 victory at home to Chelsea more than two full months ago.
