JUST NOW: Jurgen Klopp explains why he refused to celebrate Darwin Nunez Liverpool winner

But Klopp said: “I don’t think it is a red card, there’s pretty much no contact, very little. But what can I say? The decision is like this and I cannot change it. I don’t want it.

“Would I whistle it in a training game? Definitely not but there are reasons why I’m not a referee and they are.”

Newcastle were convinced Trent Alexander-Arnold should have been dismissed in the opening minutes when, shortly after being given a yellow card for kicking the ball away, the Liverpool right-back tangled with former Everton winger Anthony Gordon.

It prompted a frank exchange of views between the two benches with Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall gesturing for Klopp to be quiet.

And the Reds boss said: “This is an observation – there is a foul on Trent Alexander-Arnold which is not given, clear in front of me, the ref doesn’t give it and then Trent kicks the ball away, his fault, bang, yellow.

“The next situation, if he (the referee) gives a yellow then he gives it, but I didn’t think it was. You need to have this little space to keep the game going.”

Klopp would also tell Sky Sports that the fourth official agreed it should have been a foul on the Liverpool full-back after an initial shove from Gordon.