“We have our history with Tierney, I really don’t know what this man has against us. He said there are no problems, but that can’t be true.’
That was Jurgen Klopp on referee Paul Tierney after Liverpool’s dramatic final victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
Minutes earlier, Tierney had shown the Liverpool manager a yellow card for sprinting down the touchline to confront fourth official John Brooks who was so explosive he suffered a pulled hamstring.
That was in response to Diogo Jota’s winner in the 94th minute, the seventh of seven goals in a thrilling encounter at Anfield.
In the eyes of many, including Alan Shearer on Match of the Day, Klopp was lucky not to be sent to the stands in the few seconds left of Liverpool’s victory.
Jurgen Klopp takes a beating from referee Paul Tierney after sprinting down the touchline to confront fourth official John Brooks (left) after Diogo Jota’s late winner
The Liverpool manager was booked by Tierney for his latest touchline antics
Klopp had sprinted to the fourth official to celebrate Diogo Jota’s winner in his face
Klopp appeared to pull his hamstring during the touchline but admitted afterwards he was ‘punished’ by the painful injury
But he is likely to be charged by the FA anyway over his post-match comments about Tierney, with Klopp claiming the referee said something ‘unacceptable’ to him as he showed the yellow card.
PGMOL, the refereeing body for the Premier League, reacted in strong terms late on Sunday evening, accusing Klopp of lying after viewing audio recordings and insisting that Tierney was ‘acting professionally all the way’.
But Sunday was just the latest installment in a feud between Klopp and Tierney that has been going on for some time.
The 42-year-old official, who hails from Wigan, has played in a total of 23 Liverpool Premier League games and two in the FA Cup since January 2017.
Tierney has accounted for more Liverpool games than any other club, with Manchester City (20) and Manchester United (18) the next most regular.
Liverpool won seven of their first eight league games with Tierney in midfield, but after a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in July 2020, they won just six of their 15, and there were some flare-ups.
The first took place during Project Restart in July 2020 when Tierney was shot down by Klopp after apparently missing a foul on Georginio Wijnaldum in a match with Aston Villa.
Emotions ran high despite Liverpool winning 2-0 having already been crowned Premier League champions.
According to reports at the time, Tierney replied, “I missed it, Jurgen. I’m like players, I’m going to make mistakes. I missed it. Get over it.’
Klopp has been accused of lying when PGMOL refuted his claims about referee Tierney
Klopp has feuded with Tierney after the 2-2 draw against Tottenham in December 2021
Klopp said afterwards ‘honestly I don’t have a problem with referees…just you’
With Anfield empty during the Covid-19 pandemic, the exchange was more audible than usual.
When Liverpool hosted Manchester United in January of the following season, Klopp found himself on the sideline in dismay when Tierney blew seconds before half-time and Sadio Mane was about to run through on goal.
At least an extra minute had been signaled, but the clock fell short when the whistle blew while Mane was gone. The match ended goalless.
Another clash came during a dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham in December 2021 when Klopp marched to Tierney saying he had ‘no problem with referees… just you’.
Klopp strongly felt that Harry Kane’s tackle on Andy Robertson deserved a red card
Klopp felt Harry Kane should have been sent off for a tackle on Andy Robertson – the striker was booked instead – and later Robertson himself was sacked for a reckless hack on Emerson Royal after Tierney checked VAR replays.
It was reported at the time that Klopp was waiting for Tierney in the tunnel at half time.
The draw meant that amid a Covid outbreak, Liverpool lost ground to Man City in the title race and with emotions running high, Klopp said: “I really have no idea what his [Tierney’s] problem is with me. Frankly, I have no idea.
“You just need an objective referee who sees the situations and trusts them.
“I think we can all agree that this is a clear red card. You’ll have to ask Mr. Tierney.’
Klopp took an indirect swipe at Tierney earlier this year after Liverpool went down 3-1 at Brentford.
Insisting that Bryan Mbeumo had pushed Ibrahima Konate away in the run-up to one of Brentford’s goals, Klopp was asked if he had spoken to match officials about this.
Liverpool were annoyed when Tierney blew his whistle early before half-time with Sadio Mane clear on goal in their January 2021 game with Manchester United
Liverpool’s Andy Robertson complains to Tierney during the 2021 game against Man United
“Yeah, but actually that’s exactly like if I were to talk to my microwave, you don’t get an answer, really, it’s always the same,” he said.
Tierney then found himself in the eye of the storm again as Liverpool drew 2-2 in Arsenal’s title challenge at Anfield last month.
Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to elbow Robertson as they walked away at the end of the first half, with the Liverpool defender booked for his protests.
After an investigation, Hatzidakis received permission from the football association to return to work.
Tierney was the man in the middle when Andy Robertson claimed he was elbowed last month by assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis
Liverpool protested to referee Paul Tierney after the alleged incident with the linesman
Sunday’s madcap game at Anfield has become the latest episode in this feud between manager and referee.
Liverpool were 3–0 up within the first 15 minutes and looked on course for a cricket scoreline, only for Spurs to claw it back to 3–3 when Richarlison equalized in the 93rd minute.
Klopp was furious that Spurs were awarded a free-kick leading up to that goal and when Jota won it he felt the need to yell at fourth official Brooks.
The German admitted that the pulled hamstring was instant karma for his actions – “I was punished” – but you suspect that even that painful moment won’t quell this ongoing feud with Tierney.