Updated March 12, 2020 12:25:32

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned his own fans to keep their distance, as coronavirus threatens to wreak havoc with the world's sporting calendar.

As his Liverpool team ran out at Anfield for their vital Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Atletico Madrid, Reds fans leaned out over the tunnel, stretching their arms out to high-five the German manager.

However an angry Klopp could be seen waving off the fans, telling them to "put your hands away you f****** idiots."

He then strode away to get to his spot in the dugout.

Mass gatherings and sporting events around Europe and across the world are increasingly being cancelled, postponed or held behind closed doors.

Medical advice has already led to the Premier League and other leagues banning pre-match handshakes between players to avoid the spread of the virus.

A number of Arsenal players are in self-isolation, and Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive to COVID-19.

Klopp was praised last week when he told a reporter who asked him for his take on coronavirus to go away and ask an expert instead.

Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast.

"What I don't like in life is that a very serious thing [means] a football manager's opinion is important — I don't understand that," Klopp said.

"I really don't understand it. If I asked you [the journalist], you are in exactly the same role as I am.

"It's not important what famous people say. No, we have to speak about things in the right manner, not people with no knowledge like me, talking about something.

"People with knowledge will talk about it, and tell people to do this, do that and everything will be fine — or not.

"Not football managers, I don't understand that — politics, coronavirus, why me? I wear a base[ball] cap and have a bad shave!".

Reds out of Champions League

Photo: A howler from Liverpool keeper Adrian helped Atletico Madrid to knock the Reds out of the Champions League. (AP: Jon Super)

It wasn't a great night for the Reds overall, as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico, losing 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

There was drama aplenty, with Liverpool levelling the tie on aggregate with a first-half goal, then battering the Atletico defence in search of a winner.

The visitors then nearly won it themselves in the final seconds of normal time, when Saul Niguez headed the ball into the net from a free kick, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

The tie went to extra-time, and early on the Reds finally led, with a goal from forward Roberto Firmino.

The Anfield roar was soon silenced, however, as goalkeeper Adrian mistimed a clearance, and Atletico took advantage with Marcos Llorente scoring a vital away goal.

Then at the end of the first half of extra-time, Llorente got the ball again, and scored past Adrian to all but seal the win.

Liverpool tried to chase the game, only for Alvaro Morata to score in the final minute of play, to send the holders out of the tournament.

Liverpool still leads the Premier League by 25 points, with 10 games to go for their rivals Manchester City.

The red half of Merseyside is desperate for a title win to end a 30-year drought.

However the spectre of coronavirus has begun to affect the Premier League directly, with City's game with Arsenal this week postponed as a number of Arsenal players were in self-isolation.

Their team had played Greek side Olympiacos, whose owner Evangelos Marinakis has tested positive for COVID-19.

Topics: sport, soccer, community-and-society, infectious-diseases-other, health, united-kingdom, england

First posted March 12, 2020 12:03:26