Liverpool host Arsenal on Sunday in the Premier League in a game that can have an impact on the title race as well as the battle for top four but Jurgen Klopp is set to face a referee that saw him narrowly avoid FA punishment.
Paul Tierney will be the official at Anfield for the visit of Mikel Arteta's side. The Gunners will be looking to extend their lead at the summit of the English top-flight ahead of nearest challengers Manchester City.
City travel to Southampton on Saturday evening looking to cut their deficit with the north London club to just five points. The Reds have previously enjoyed a successful record against Arsenal before the 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season.
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Referee Tierney has only been in charge of the Citizens and now-Championship side Watford more than Liverpool during his career in the middle. He has officiated the Reds 23 times during his professional career, six of which coming this season. Among those was the chastening defeat away at Wolves at the beginning of February as well as the frustrating loss at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.
But it was against Tottenham Hotspur last season that saw the German embroiled in a heated discussion with the official during the clash as well as at full-time.
Liverpool drew with Antonio Conte's side 2-2 on that evening in December after a rare mistake from Alisson handed Heung-min Son the opportunity to tap into an empty net to deny the Reds an away win.
The match wasn't without incident as Diogo Jota was denied a spot-kick, which left the Liverpool boss irate and Andy Robertson was sent off in the latter stages while Spurs captain Harry Kane avoided retrospective action following a late lunge on the aforementioned Scot.
After blowing for full-time, Klopp marched to the centre circle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and could be heard lambasting the official.
"I have no problems with any referees. Only you," he appeared to say in audio picked up by Sky Sports cameras.
"Yes, definitely [Kane should have been shown a red card],” Klopp told Sky Sports in his post-match interview. "We can give Robbo a red card, it's not the smartest challenge of his life, that's how it is. But that's [Kane on Robertson] definitely a red card, no doubt about that.
"People will say his leg is in the air, but that's pure coincidence. Harry cannot judge that and if Robbo's leg is on the ground, then it's a broken leg, no doubt about that.
"Mr Tierney told me he thinks Diogo stops on purpose because he wants the foul," he added on the incident surrounding the Portuguese international. "First and foremost if you want to shoot you have to stop because he cannot run and shoot in the same moment.
"It will always be helpful if people have played football themselves in the past.
"It's fine, the draw is okay. We are not that crazy that we think we can't draw at Tottenham. But these situations are crucial, they are decisive.
"I really have no idea what his [Tierney] problem is with me. Honestly, I have no idea.
"You just need an objective ref who sees the situations and trust them. He told me that he thinks he [Jota] stops on purpose. That’s incredible.
"He had the best spot on the pitch, he was eight yards away and doesn’t give it. We have to ask him, what’s his problem."
Arsenal have fared little better with Tierney in charge, having lost their last five games in which he has officiated stretching back to February 2021.
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