‘I REALLY don’t know what this man has with us’: Jurgen Klopp FUMES at referee Paul Tierney after the official gave him a yellow card for celebrating Liverpool’s winner against Spurs – but refuses to reveal what the official said that irritated him
- Jurgen Klopp celebrated in the face of the fourth official after Diogo Jota’s goal
- The Liverpool strained his hamstring before receiving a yellow card from referee Paul Tierney
- He admitted that he crossed the line and deserved a warning for his behavior
Jurgen Klopp admitted he crossed the line after celebrating Liverpool’s dramatic victory over Tottenham by shouting in the fourth official’s face and then pulling his hamstring.
Diogo Jota scored an injury-time winner at Anfield 99 seconds after Richarlison completed Spurs’ 3-0 comeback in the dying moments of a Premier League classic.
Klopp responded to Jota’s goal by running straight to fourth official John Brooks, but then injured his hamstring.
He was booked by referee Paul Tierney and the Liverpool boss admitted it was: ‘Fair punishment for wrong behaviour.’
But Klopp tried to defend his actions, insisting: “Of course we are emotional in these moments. It is difficult. “It’s not okay, we shouldn’t do that, yes, we are role models, obviously.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp launched an astonishing attack on referee Paul Tierney
Klopp was booked by Tierney after celebrating in front of fourth official John Brooks
It came after Diogo Jota secured victory for the Reds deep into stoppage time against Tottenham
“But we are first and foremost human beings. Before you are a role model, you are human and that happens in the moment.
Klopp added: “Fair enough I’ve already been penalized, I got a yellow card on top of that, I think (Tierney) thought I should have gotten another penalty, but because of the fourth official it was a yellow card. That is it. We need to ask Mr. Tierney what’s going on.’
Klopp took aim at Tierney after these two sides met last season and on Sunday the German said: “We have history with Mr Tierney, I really don’t know what this man has with us. He will always say that there is nothing and that it is not true. It can’t be.’
Klopp would not reveal details of their conversation here, but he claimed: “What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card… it’s not okay.”
He added: ‘I’ve been in pain for a few days, Mr Tierney hasn’t. (Next game) I’ll be ready to do what I always do and the celebrations – when we have something to celebrate will be much calmer.
Liverpool took a 3-0 lead against a sloppy Spurs defense in the first 15 minutes with goals from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah
But Ryan Mason’s side fought back with goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and thought they had leveled the game as Richarlison equalized in stoppage time for what earned an improbable point.
But Liverpool roared straight back and found a winner deep into added time, as Jota pushed the winner past Fraser Forster – leaving Anfield delirium and Klopp celebrating wildly on the bench after securing a 4-3 win.
The result moves Klopp’s side above Tottenham into fifth place, seven points behind the Champions League spots with five games remaining.