Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Liverpool and Klopp fuming with Curtis Jones incident

Cristiano Ronaldo left Liverpool players and Jurgen Klopp fuming following a clash with Curtis Jones late in the first half of their Premier League clash.

The Reds midfielder was on the pitch protecting the ball and Manchester United's Portuguese forward was trying to win it back, before losing his composure.

With the ball on the ground, Ronaldo kicked it directly into Jones - leading to an altercation between the two sets of players that threatened to boil over.

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A series of Liverpool players ran to the scene to confront Ronaldo, with Bruno Fernandes among the United players who went to protect their teammate.

Referee Anthony Taylor showed Ronaldo a yellow card for the incident with suggestions from the opposing players that it could easily have been upgraded to a red.

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Cristiano Ronaldo clashed with Liverpool's Curtis Jones ( Image:

REUTERS)

Among the Liverpool players incensed were defenders Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, the latter of whom was pointing into Ronaldo's face after the incident.

Jones was clearly unhappy following the incident and was left lying on the ground in pain after the ball had struck him from such close range.

His manager Jurgen Klopp was also furious with the episode and was engaged in a lengthy conversation with the fourth official in an animated fashion.

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Liverpool players confronted Ronaldo after the incident ( Image:

REUTERS)

Former United defender Gary Neville, who was commentating on the game for Sky Sports, said: "His head's gone here."

Ronaldo had let the frustration of the afternoon get to him as United were thoroughly outclassed by their rivals at Old Trafford.

Mohamed Salah netted a hat-trick for Klopp's relentless side as United had no response of their own, and they trailed 0-4 at half-time.

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Andy Robertson was the most vocal Liverpool player to react to the incident ( Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

United's lack of discipline would spill over again in the second half as Paul Pogba, who was a half-time substitute, was sent off in the 59 th minute.

The France international midfielder was initially shown a yellow card for a late, studs-up challenge on Naby Keita - who subsequently had to be stretchered off the pitch.

The VAR recommended referee Taylor to consult his pitchside monitor and upon doing so, correctly decided to upgrade the decision from a yellow card to a red.

It was the latest low point in an alarming run of results for United, who went into the game with just one point from their previous three Premier League matches.

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They had been ousted 1-0 at Old Trafford by Aston Villa before being held 1-1 by Everton the following week.

The international break did not bring any respite for United, who were promptly outclassed at Leicester City in a 4-2 defeat.

Results had been slightly more encouraging in the Champions League with comeback wins over Villarreal and Atalanta but the pressure on boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will now be immense.