Gary Lineker has told Manchester United to take Jurgen Klopp's penalty jibe as a compliment.
After Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Southampton on Monday evening, Klopp made a pointed remark about the amount of penalties United have been awarded in recent seasons.
Klopp's side had two penalty appeals turned down against Saints after Sadio Mane went down under a challenge from Kyle Walker-Peters and Gini Wijnaldum's shot struck Jack Stephens' hand.
It prompted the Liverpool boss to remark: "I hear now that Manchester United had more penalties in two years than I had in five-and-a-half years. I've no idea if that's my fault, or how that can happen.
"But it's no excuse for the performance. We cannot change it, we have to respect the decisions. But we can change our performance. That's our focus now."
Lineker tweeted: "Bullets fired. If I was a fan of Man United I'd take that as a massive compliment."
Klopp's words will no doubt stoke the fires between the two clubs ahead of the huge meeting at Anfield on January 17, which is Liverpool's next Premier League fixture.
With the loss to Southampton meaning Liverpool stay level on points with United having played a game more, Lineker also spoke out on the battle for the top two.
He wrote: "We might just have ourselves a title race."
