Jurgen Klopp accuses referee of lying and trouble with Liverpool in furious rage

Jurgen Klopp claims referee Paul Tierney has a problem with himself and Liverpool in an angry tirade after Sunday’s win over Tottenham.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has lashed out at referee Paul Tierney after Sunday’s win over Tottenham. The German claims the official lied saying he had no problem with him and his club.

Tierney refereed a dramatic encounter at Anfield. Liverpool held off a stunning Spurs comeback to win 4-3 through a late Diogo Jota winner. Klopp was booked for his celebration after the winning goal but has now delivered a scathing verdict on Tierney. He claims he has a ‘history’ with the 42-year-old, who has previously insisted he has no problems with Liverpool or Klopp.

But Klopp suggested otherwise in angry post-match conversations. He told Sky Sports: “How can they foul Mohamed Salah [ahead of Spurs’ third goal]. We have our history with Tierney, I really don’t know what he has against us, he said that there was no problem but that can’t be true.

“How he looks at me, I don’t understand. In England, no one has to clarify these situations, it’s really complicated and difficult to understand. My celebration was not necessary, which is fair, but what he told me when he told me that the card yellow is not good”. 

Liverpool raced to a 3-0 lead within the first 15 minutes. Curtis Jones came on from a fine Trent Alexander-Arnold cross to score his first goal of the season.

Soon it was two as Luis Diaz scored on his first start since October, before Mohamed Salah scored three from the penalty spot. Spurs pulled one back before half-time thanks to Harry Kane as Liverpool became complacent.

Ryan Mason’s side pushed hard and Heung-min Son scored again to cut the deficit to one with 13 minutes of regulation time remaining. Richarlison then came off the bench to score his first league goal for Spurs in the 93rd minute as the visitors felt they had stolen a point.

But a big mistake by Lucas Moura pushed Jota home. The Portugal star kept his composure and scored his fifth goal in four games, grabbing all three points for Klopp’s side. Klopp explained how Spurs made things difficult for his side and admits they ‘got away with it’ with a win. He said: “For a long time the first half was the best game we have played so far. The first half was good, we conceded a goal, but it was the first time We didn’t defend well.

“Other than that, the first half was good. The problem is that Spurs don’t change at all, they counter-attack even when they are down 3-1. They just defend, counter-attack and get set pieces and that makes things difficult.

“We got away with it thanks to Diogo Jota, he makes it spectacular and everyone goes home enthusiastic, but I’m the manager of the team so I have to mention everything else too. In three days we have to do better.” 

“They had a defensive formation, but the way we started the game was fantastic, everything was there. It was almost perfect, but it seemed to lead us down the wrong path.”

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Also.. 

5 talking points from Liverpool 4-3 Spurs as Diaz delivers and injured Klopp salutes Kop 

A match that epitomized Liverpool’s season, and perhaps Tottenham Hotspur’s, ended with triumphant fist pumps from Jurgen Klopp and a strained hamstring.

Liverpool 4-3Tottenham

Goals: Jones 3′, Díaz 5′, Salah Pen 15′, Jota 90+4′; Kane 40′, Son 77′, Richarlison 90+2′

Diaz delivers on return

This was Luis Diaz’s first start for Liverpool since October.

The team he rejoined at the end of this season was in a very different situation to the team he joined in January 2022, who were mounting a title challenge for Man City.

It goes without saying that his return to the fold is very welcome.

He adds an immediacy, speed and guile that few players have, and he managed to score one of those early goals in the first 15 minutes that helped Liverpool beat Spurs – pretty much. Klopp now has a range of attacking options and can even use different players with different strengths depending on the opponent.

However, there won’t be many games where Diaz isn’t a useful offensive threat to the team.

Defensive weakness but not Van Dijk’s fault

Trent-Alexander Arnold has adapted superbly to the new system which positions him in midfield.

But the rest of the players still seem to be working out what happens in the gap left by Trent in defense.

The main problem for Spurs’ opening goal was that Ibrahima Konate moved into midfield to deal with the attack at source, leaving even more space on the right side of the Liverpool defence. Once Konate was rounded and Spurs were in that position, even they would struggle not to make the most of it.

Van Dijk appears to have been blamed, but he and Andy Robertson are fighting a losing battle as the opposition held a three-to-two in their favour.

It goes to show that while some facets of this new ball possession system are working well, players still need to figure out what to do with the space left by Trent.

Maybe a reinforcement in the midfield is needed to prevent Konate from being tempted to step up, or maybe the centre-back just needs to be more responsive and cover the box.

Either way, Klopp’s weaknesses and the players to work on were revealed in the win. As he howled angrily from the touchline after that first goal, he seemed to know what was wrong, which is encouraging. For the other two, however, it may be lost.

A mad game brings an important victory

This Liverpool might not have been great, but on this occasion they were certainly entertaining – not always in a good way.

Fans were on a roller coaster of emotions which ended in celebration when Diogo Jota scored the winner after it looked like Richarlison had bagged a point for the visitors.

Anfield had been fairly calm as Liverpool led 3-0, perhaps it was too easy, leading to complacency. When Tottenham made a game and Liverpool let them in, the volume and nervousness built up.

In the end it was a fight and three easy points turned into three essential points with the prospect of losing two.

Klopp was the epitome of that, and perhaps he is lucky to avoid punishment by celebrating in front of the fourth official. Although a pulled hamstring can be punishment enough.

At the end of the game, the coach gave his signature punch to the Kop which only appears after an important victory. Had Liverpool led to victory they may not have turned up, but as they won in dramatic fashion the celebrations were more intense.

Lineup from local to global

Liverpool’s lineup against Spurs is what every football club should aim for.

A combination of homegrown and academy talent, including some local players, as well as a collection of the best players discovered from around the world.

It preserves a team’s identity and keeps it competitive. Maintains rapport with both local supporters and global fan base. Alexander-Arnold grew up in West Derby and Jones in Toxteth – both are from the city and came through the academy.

Despite being identified by the club’s scouts as the English talent of the generation at Fulham, Harvey Elliott was a growing up Liverpool supporter and is classified as a homegrown player for the club itself, given the young age at which he joined.

But the combination of local prodigies combined with world-class talents is one way to maintain a club’s character and identity in a world where football is beginning to lose its connection to fans.

euro vision

It’s hard to believe that this Spurs team has topped Liverpool and also Brighton and Villa in the league table.

You’d think they’d be lower in mid-table now with Chelsea, but somehow they were still pretty close to the top four until recently. The picture now reflects their demise as well as Liverpool’s recent mini resurgence – as well as the quality that Brighton and Villa have shown recently.

Following Spurs’ fall, Liverpool are set to qualify for the Europa League ahead of the new season.

You wouldn’t bet they would reach the final in Dublin, a very Liverpool city that’s relatively short by ferry.