Jurgen Klopp doubles down on Liverpool’s ‘history’ with the Premier League official after Spurs win

Jurgen Klopp expressed regret for the behavior that could lead to an FA charge, while detailing comments about Paul Tierney.

The Liverpool manager was criticized for the way he acted after Diogo Jota’s dramatic winning goal against Tottenham Hotspur, the German rushing to fourth official John Brooks as he simmered on a decision made moments earlier against Mohamed Salah .

Klopp remarkably pulled his hamstring so badly in the commotion that he admitted he would be out for six weeks if he were a player. There was a rueful smile as he handed over that medical bulletin, but he was more level-headed when he related what had happened.

In his post-match press conference, Klopp said Liverpool had “history” with Tierney. He was booked by the referee for his excessive revelry and had Tierney not listened to Brooks, Klopp would have been sent off for the second time this season.

“The whole situation should not have happened at all. It was out of emotion, anger and that’s never a good leader for the things you do. I was still angry, which led to the way I celebrated.

According to the Reds boss, Tierney told Klopp how he initially intended to send him off rather than issue a yellow card after Liverpool scored their last gasp winner against Spurs on Sunday.

“I yelled ‘Without you, without you’, which didn’t really make sense. Paul Tierney came up to me and I didn’t expect a red card for a second. He said: “For me it’s a red card”. “Red card for what?” I tried to calm down, didn’t succeed very well and then went into the interviews.

“Maybe I should have said he told me it was a red card and I didn’t think so. The rest of the things I said about how I feel about Paul Tierney whistling his games, I’m sure he’s not doing this on purpose, but there’s history. These things that have happened in the past, in decisive matches, have happened. That’s a feeling, nothing else.’

Klopp, who has yet to hear from the FA but is bracing for a phone call asking him to explain his comments, continued: “He (Tierney) showed me a yellow card and smiled on my face. That is it. At the final whistle we go in and I try to calm down and it didn’t work out well and I said what I said.

“The things that are made of what Paul Tierney said to me (that he said Tierney’s words were unacceptable) I didn’t say. I said “What he said to me wasn’t OK” and I thought it wasn’t OK because it wasn’t a red card in my eyes. I understand that I have opened the box.

“It wasn’t intentional, but I opened it. Your colleague (from Sky Sports) stepped in and wanted me to go ahead and said words like ‘inappropriate’ or whatever and I didn’t respond to that.

The Reds boss celebrated Diogo Jota’s late winner in the face of fourth official John Brooks

Klopp has been accused of lying – with PGMOL refuting his post-match claims about Tierney

“Maybe at that point I should have said, ‘He told me he thought it was a red card and I didn’t think it was a red card’ and stopped talking there. That’s one of the things that happened. The rest was, the things I said were how I felt at the time about Paul Tierney refereeing our games.

“I’m very sure he’s not doing it on purpose, but we have a history and I can’t deny that. I’m not a resentful person – not at all, I think it’s a waste of time, I have so many things to deal with in my life – but things like this that happened in the past, in decisive matches for us or not, happened.’

Klopp, whose complaint dates back to a game between Liverpool and Tottenham in December 2021, in which Harry Kane avoided a red card and Jota was not given a clear penalty, added: ‘Of course they (decisions)’ didn’t happen intentionally, but they are there still and it is a feeling – nothing else.

“I know the referees were very angry about what I said and now go for it. I heard I lied. I did a lot of things that day, but I didn’t lie. I shouldn’t have said a few things, but lying wasn’t one of them.’

The 4-3 last-minute win was crucial in Liverpool’s bid to secure Champions League football next season as the Reds kept in touch with Newcastle and Manchester United despite being seven points behind fourth in the table. ranking.

Liverpool threw away a three-goal lead before Jota capitalized on a late Tottenham error

Klopp insisted Tierney was the only referee he had “problems” with in his post-match interview

Klopp’s men are now on course to secure Europa League football at least next season, having leapfrogged Spurs to fifth after Sunday’s late victory.

During his post-game interview, the Reds boss admitted that Tierney was the only umpire he had “issues” with.

Klopp said after Sunday’s game: “We’ve had our story, history with Mr Tierney.

“I really don’t know what this man has with us. He will always say there is nothing, but it is not true. I can’t, I don’t understand that. It can’t be. I’m really not sure if it’s me, how he looks at me. I do not understand.

“I really don’t have a problem with people, including him. But I say again. He was turning down at Tottenham Hotspur when Harry Kane didn’t get a red card. And Harry Kane, I love this player, what a player, crazy, I don’t want him to get a red card – but it was a red card in that game.

“And it was Mr. Tierney and no one asked him about it because they don’t need to clear up situations. So it’s really tricky and it’s hard to understand and my celebration for the fourth official I didn’t say bad words.

The referee has been appointed for VAR and fourth official duties for this weekend’s games

PGMOL defended Tierney after Klopp accused the official of making ‘inappropriate comments’

After watching Tierney’s audio of the match, PGMOL insisted the referee acted ‘professionally all the way’ and accused Klopp of lying about the referee’s behaviour.

The referees’ governing body released a statement on Sunday saying: “PGMOL is aware of Jürgen Klopp’s comments following his side’s match with Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League match officials are recorded in all matches via a communication system and having fully reviewed referee Paul Tierney’s audio from today’s match we can confirm that he acted in a professional manner throughout, including at the giving the warning to the Liverpool manager. so we strongly refute any suggestion that Tierney’s actions were inappropriate.”

Tierney has been assigned to the fourth official and VAR duty in the Premier League this weekend.