Report: Manchester City accuse Liverpool's Klopp of inflaming tensions

Manchester City assign some of the blame to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for inflaming tensions during Sunday's heated clash at Anfield.

City sources cited his comment about Manchester City's spending power during Friday's press conference as a possible explanation for some of the events that marred Liverpool's 1-0 win, according to Paul Hirst of The Times.

"There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially," the German manager said, grouping City alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United - other clubs with ties to Gulf states.

This reportedly angered City officials, who noted that Pep Guardiola had toned down his remarks about a rivalry that's featured a handful of fiery encounters in recent years.

Klopp was shown a red card during the match for arguing with an assistant referee.

Some fans in Anfield's away section sang chants about the Hillsborough disaster on Sunday, while some sections of the visiting end were vandalized with graffiti about the 1989 tragedy.

Manchester City issued a statement condemning the behavior.

Meanwhile, Guardiola said Reds supporters threw coins at him on the touchline. Liverpool later promised lifetime bans for anyone found guilty of targeting the Spanish manager.

The incidents at and outside of Anfield prompted the Football Association to open its own investigation.

The wide-ranging probe could include a formal complaint from Manchester City about damage to their bus, according to The Guardian's Andy Hunter.

Manchester City's bus windshield was cracked by an object outside the stadium. UEFA fined Liverpool €20,000 in 2018 after Liverpool supporters damaged City's bus with missiles before a Champions League quarterfinal meeting.