Liverpool boss Klopp SLAMMED by Dyche over comments, Sturridge accused of 'cheating'

Sean Dyche and Jurgen Klopp have been defending their sides after Wednesday's game

Dyche defended his players after Jurgen Klopp slammed their tackling as the Premier League title hopefuls won 3-1 at Turf Moor on Wednesday.

Klopp claimed Burnley’s players needed to take more care with their challenges, despite admitting they were not fouls.

Even so, Liverpool have confirmed that defender Joe Gomez suffered a lower leg fracture during the game and he could be sidelined for up to six weeks.

But Klopp’s words have drawn a stinging response from Dyche, who claimed Sturridge dived to win a free-kick in the first 15 minutes of the match.

"He [Klopp] didn’t reference Daniel Sturridge’s cheating when he went down, nothing near him, and he got a free-kick for it,” said Dyche.

"I watched Liverpool as a kid, I was a Liverpool fan growing up in the 70s and they had a fantastic side, one with skill, will and a physical edge.

"Now if that has gone and been replaced by cheating, I’m absolutely happy to be old-fashioned.

"There’s no way I’d want to see good proper professionals challenging in the manner that ours did and replace it with cheating.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp complained about the hard tackles his side faced from Burnley

Jurgen Klopp and Sean Dyche were affable prior to the game

Dyche, who was involved in an animated conversation with Klopp as they left the pitch at full-time, claimed he was baffled by some of the Liverpool manager’s post-match comments.

Klopp complained about Burnley’s tackling, saying: “After the first challenge, I don’t know who did it, a sliding tackle from six or seven yards, getting the ball, everybody likes it, I said to the ref, ‘It’s no foul but please tell them you cannot do that’.”

Dyche, however, claimed that the only tackle Klopp had any right to complain about was one from Phil Bardsley on Alberto Moreno.

"What I would say is this, and it’s important to register: there were some excellent tackles in the game,” said Dyche.

Jurgen Klopp took exception to the physical nature of Sean Dyche's side

"The only one that was questionable was Bardo’s. Ben Mee’s was a fantastic tackle.

"I imagine a player who seems to be an honest player, in Gomez, realised that. That was the message we got after. We send him our best.”

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson was pleased by how well his side kept their heads in the face of those aggressive tackles from Burnley.

Henderson knew Burnley would be physical and was delighted by how well Liverpool stood up to them.

Sean Dyche criticised Daniel Sturridge's dive in the first half

"You’ve got to expect that,” said the England international. “They’re fighting, though we all are.

"We knew Burnley were an aggressive team and they’ve got some good players. They want to win.

"I thought we reacted well. We kept playing the ball. If you lose your head you can pick up cards.

"The focus was brilliant in terms of maintaining control and creating chances.”