‘You have NEVER played football’: Fuming Jurgen Klopp confronts ref Paul Tierney on the pitch and says he is the ONLY official he has a problem with after controversy in Liverpool’s draw at Spurs
- Jurgen Klopp stormed onto the pitch after the match to complain to Paul Tierney
- Ref Tierney gave several controversial decisions against Liverpool on Sunday
- The Reds drew 2-2 at Tottenham but were aggrieved at numerous Tierney calls
- The official did not give Harry Kane a red card and denied Diogo Jota a penalty
- He then sent off defender Andy Robertson for a kick on Spurs’ Emerson Royal
Jurgen Klopp stormed onto the pitch furiously to confront referee Paul Tierney in an astonishing rant after Liverpool’s fractious draw against Tottenham.
The Reds managed to take a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday despite them feeling several highly contentious decisions went against them.
And Klopp, who had earlier been shown a yellow card on the sidelines by Tierney to cheers from the home crowd, marched onto the field after the final whistle to make his feelings known to the official.
Jurgen Klopp (l) stormed onto the field after the Liverpool game to confront ref Paul Tierney (r)
The Reds manager tried to make his point to official Tierney after a 2-2 draw against Tottenham
He said: ‘Honestly, I have no problem with any referees, only you. You don’t give us this penalty – you have never played football’.
In his post-match press conference, the German added: ‘I really have no idea what his problem is with me. Honestly, I have no idea. I have no problem… you just need an objective ref who sees the situations and judges them and not opinions.’
Klopp was furious that Spurs striker Harry Kane escaped a sending off after lunging in on defender Andy Robertson, claiming: ‘That’s definitely a red card… if Andy’s foot is still on the ground his leg is broken.’
Kane, however, denied it was a red card and even claimed Robertson agreed with him and said ‘I don’t think it was a foul’.
Jurgen Klopp insisted Harry Kane should have been sent off in Liverpool’s draw at Tottenham
Kane slammed into Andy Robertson but avoided punishment, much to Klopp’s annoyance
Klopp said the challenge was ‘definitely’ worthy of a red card, and wanted VAR to intervene
Despite there being no genuine malice in the tackle, the 28-year-old appeared to catch the Scotland international flush on his ankle with studs showing and was booked by Tierney, a decision upheld after a VAR check.
Pundits agreed with Klopp, with Gary Neville insisting Kane was ‘lucky’ to escape a red card and former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp suggesting his status as England captain may have spared him.
Klopp was also frustrated after Tierney waved away a potential penalty when Spurs wing-back Emerson Royal clumsily barged into the back of Diogo Jota inside the penalty area.
The referee did not consult VAR, to Klopp and Liverpool’s frustration, with Redknapp adding: ‘Look at the position of the referee – surely he can see that.
Diogo Jota went to ground inside the penalty area, but no penalty was given in the first half
Klopp shared his disbelief over the moment and said he is not able to ‘understand’ the decision
The Portugal striker appeared to be pushed by Emerson Royal as Davinson Sanchez also slid in
Klopp claimed Tierney had told him that Jota had checked his run because he wanted a foul
‘It is a horrendous decision, he just barges him. At least get some opinion from VAR. It is such a bad decision.
‘There is not a fan of football or an ex-player who would say that is not a penalty. It is a joke of a decision.’
The away boss was also frustrated by Robertson’s red card for kicking out at Royal – potentially not so much the red card as the inconsistency in not also giving Kane his marching orders.
Kane gave Tottenham the lead with a precise finish, before Jota equalised with a fine header from Robertson’s cross. Robertson steered a header home with 20 minutes left before an Alisson mistake allowed Son to steal in and rescue the hosts a point.