Jurgen Klopp Criticizes Ref Paul Tierney

Jurgen Klopp has had a long history with referee Paul Tierney and was not pleased when he was shown a yellow card at Anfield. This is not the first time that the two have had a drama-filled match, with the 4-3 win over Tottenham being the latest. Last season, Klopp had expressed his confusion over Tierney’s decisions when Andy Robertson was shown a red card, Harry Kane avoided one and Diogo Jota was denied a penalty. This time, there were plenty of questionable and bemusing decisions from the official, including a foul given against Mohamed Salah when it was he who was being impeded. Klopp expressed his confusion and disbelief, saying that he had “no idea what his problem is with me”. The drama boiled over when Klopp ran up the touchline to celebrate Jota’s match-winning goal, pulling his hamstring before getting in the face of the fourth official and being shown a yellow card for his actions. Klopp admitted that his “celebration towards the fourth official was unnecessary” but was angered by what Tierney said to him when he was given the yellow card, though he refused to reveal what those words were. Klopp gave context to his frustration, citing the game at Tottenham where Harry Kane should have been given a red card. He concluded by saying that it is difficult to understand why Tierney handles situations with him as he does, with no clarification ever forthcoming.