Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says referee Paul Tierney has some “antagonism” against his side after a stunning end to their 4-3 win over Tottenham.
Diego Jota scored an injury-time winner for the Reds after just 99 seconds when Richarlison made it 3-3 – Liverpool went 3-0 up inside 15 minutes.
Klopp was furious at Spurs being awarded the free-kick that led to the equalizer and ran to shout at the fourth official after the winner, but injured his leg in front of the Tottenham bench.
After celebrating, he was shown a yellow card by the referee.
“We have a history with Tierney, I don’t really know what he has against us,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “He has said there is no problem but that cannot be true.
“How he sees me, I don’t understand. Nobody in England needs to explain these situations, it’s really difficult and difficult to understand.
“What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not right.”
PGMOL, the body responsible for Premier League referees, said: “PGMOL is aware of Jurgen Klopp’s comments following his team’s match with Tottenham Hotspur.
“In the Premier League match officials are recorded through the communication system at all games.
“Having fully reviewed referee Paul Tierney’s audio from today’s match, we can confirm that he acted in a professional manner when issuing a caution to the Liverpool manager.
“Therefore, we strongly reject any suggestion that Tierney’s actions were improper.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer told JEE News: “Paul Tierney could have sent Diego Jota off and he [Klopp] is not quick to mention it.
“Jurgen Klopp was lucky, when he went to the fourth official, only to get a yellow card and it’s not the first time he’s done that.”
On his injury, Klopp told JEE News: “I’m not sure if it’s the hamstring, it could be the adductor but I got punished.
“I turned around to celebrate because the fourth official didn’t do anything wrong the whole time.
“I didn’t say anything bad, I gave a look that’s pretty bad. The hamstring or whatever muscle has given up in the moment. It’s fair.”
The injury did not stop Klopp from celebrating in front of the Kop afterwards as the Reds moved past Spurs to fifth in the table.
German’s disagreement with Tierney appears to be several years old.
In 2020 Tierney reportedly told Klopp to “get over it” after the referee admitted he had missed a foul on Georginio Wijnaldum in a game against Aston Villa.
A year later, Klopp approached Tierney and said “I don’t have a problem with any referee, just you”, when Tottenham’s Harry Kane escaped a red card before Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson equalized in a 2-2 draw. Saw red in the draw.
After the loss to Brentford in January this year, Klopp said he had contacted the players – including Tierney – to discuss the decisions made during the game.
“It’s just like I would talk to my microwave, you don’t get an answer, really, it’s always the same,” he told JEE News.
Earlier this month, Tierney booked Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson following an incident with assistant referee Constantine Hetzedakis.
