Klopp ends Allardyce feud, welcomes him ahead of Merseyside Derby

There have been some rocky times in the relationship between Everton’s new manager Sam Allardyce and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp. While Allardyce was in charge of Sunderland in the 2015-16 season, tempers had flared when a dangerous tackle from Jeremain Lens took out Mamdou Sakho and police had to come in to calm things down. Lens was only shown a yellow card while the Reds thought a sending off was deserved.

After the game, Allardyce had branded Klopp ‘a soft German’, 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."

Big Sam apologized in the days after, but not necessarily for that comment, but for saying that Liverpool’s injury problems were being caused by the style of play Klopp was instituting.

In his pre-match comments as Liverpool prepare to travel to Brighton this weekend, Klopp said -

"With Sam I have kind of a history, when he was at Sunderland and he said something after the game then he had to row back, not for me, only because we are in the public.

"Then he was the manager of the England national team and we had a very good relationship in his short term.

"I'm happy for him, it's good for us when Everton is in a good moment - they shouldn't be in a better moment than we are, but in a good moment it's important for us and I think the whole city."

Allardyce has face Klopp thrice in his managerial career, winning once, drawing once and losing the other. Everton meanwhile have been wretched in the Derby in recent years and will be hoping that the new manager can change that on December 10th.