Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and referee Paul Tierney have had a tumultuous relationship, which may come to an end when Liverpool face Tottenham on Sunday. The history between the two can be traced back to Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham at Anfield last year. Following the game, Klopp made comments implying bias from the referee, resulting in a hefty fine and a two-match ban from the FA.
Since then, Tierney has only officiated one Liverpool match in November, a 3-0 win over Brentford. However, he has since taken charge of three more games involving the Reds. The upcoming clash with Tottenham will be his fifth Liverpool fixture this season.
Assisting Tierney on the field will be Scott Ledger and Mat Wilkes, with Tom Bramall serving as the fourth official. In the VAR booth, John Brooks will be assisted by James Mainwaring. It’s worth noting that among all referees since Klopp took charge at Liverpool, only five officials have officiated more matches involving the Reds than Tierney.
Throughout his career, Tierney has refereed Manchester City fixtures more frequently than any other team, with 31 games under his belt so far. Interestingly, he has shown Liverpool players the same number of yellow cards as he has shown to Leeds players, totaling 47.
Although Klopp apologized for his comments about Tierney following last season’s clash with Tottenham, the referee has been involved in more controversies this season. He was in the VAR booth for Alexis Mac Allister’s red card against Bournemouth in August, failing to overturn it upon review. However, the card was later rescinded after an appeal to the FA.
Furthermore, Tierney faced criticism for disallowing a goal for Cody Gakpo against Burnley on Boxing Day, despite there being minimal evidence of a foul in the buildup. In January, Bournemouth forward Justin Kluivert escaped a red card for a challenge on Luis Diaz, with Tierney again involved in VAR decisions. Additionally, in March, Nottingham Forest expressed their displeasure with Tierney’s decision to award a drop ball before Nunez’s winning goal.
With Klopp’s impending departure from Liverpool, there has been speculation that he may finally express his true feelings towards Tierney during Sunday’s match against Tottenham at Anfield. The encounter between the two figures promises to be an intriguing one, with fans eagerly awaiting how their relationship unfolds on the pitch.