Manchester City have reportedly claimed that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp stoked tensions between the two clubs ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the game as the Reds inflicted a first league defeat of the season on their visitors in a fiery encounter that saw Klopp sent off.
The contest has since been overshadowed by chants and graffiti about the Hillsborough disaster from the away end as well as Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola being targeted by coin throwers during the second half.
City's team bus was also reportedly attacked on its way out of Anfield while all of their players were on board, with objects allegedly being thrown at the bus and parts of the windscreen being damaged as a result.
The Times reports that Man City believe Klopp's comments regarding the spending power of their club were partially to blame for the increased tension between the clubs and their respective fanbases.
While the Liverpool boss praised Man City as the world's best team and Guardiola as the world's best manager, he also claimed that Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United were the only three teams in the world who could do what they wanted financially - comments which are understood to have angered the Premier League champions.
Man City reportedly believe that Guardiola did his best to play down the rivalry, whereas Klopp 'irresponsibly' stoked the flames.
Both clubs have condemned the actions of fans who were involved in the incidents with Guardiola quick to taunt the coin throwers post-match.
"Next time they will do it better. They didn't get me. They tried but didn't get me. They got it on the coach years ago but not this time," the Spaniard told reporters.
Klopp has also since apologised for his altercation with the assistant referee after Salah was brought down by Bernardo Silva - with neither the assistant nor referee Anthony Taylor deeming it to be a foul.
