Jurgen Klopp has suggested that referee Paul Tierney has a particular problem with him or his team following Liverpool's dramatic 4-3 win over Tottenham at Anfield.
Klopp was booked by Tierney in the second half after protesting against a free-kick awarded against Mohamed Salah. After Diogo Jota scored a 94th-minute winner, he sprinted down the touchline to celebrate in front of fourth official John Brooks.
On the way back to his technical area, he pulled his hamstring injury in bizarre scenes which capped a match full of drama. After the match, the Liverpool manager went on an eye-catching rant against Tierney in an interview with Sky Sports, which ended in an awkward fashion.
“It was very emotional of course,” he began. “Especially the situation before their third goal. How he (Tierney) can whistle a foul against Mo Salah up front when nobody… the linesman is there and keeps the flag down and then the ref whistles that.
"The next situation wouldn’t have happened if we had kept the ball there. Free-kick and then the ball is in [our net], that’s not cool. We have our story, our history with Mr Tierney.
"I really don’t know what this man has with us. I really don’t know. He will always say there’s nothing – and it’s not true, it cannot be. I have to say. It cannot be, I don’t understand it. I’m really not sure if it’s me because he looks at me… I don’t understand it.
"I really have no problem with any people – and with him as well – but it’s just like ‘Again?!’ He was the ref at Tottenham (earlier in the season) when Harry Kane didn’t get a red card. Harry Kane – I love this player, what a player – crazy – I don’t want him to get a red card, but it was a red card in that game. And it was Mr Tierney and nobody asked him about it because in England you don’t have to clarify situations. It’s really tricky and difficult to understand.
"My celebration towards the fourth officials – I didn’t say any bad words, nothing – but it was unnecessary and I got punished for that immediately. I pulled my hamstring or my adductor, that’s fine, that’s fair. But what he said to me then, when he gave me the yellow card…”
Prompted by interviewer Patrick Davidson to explain more, he replied: “No, it’s not possible. But it’s not OK as well.” Klopp then tried to walk off but was asked another question. “No, because I said already what I want to say so there’s no extra question.”
Davidson then pointed out that Klopp brought it up, to which he responded: “But then I stopped there, so you can’t ask any more questions. That’s it.” Klopp then walked out of the camera shot to end the interview abruptly.
Liverpool had raced into a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes as the home team took advantage of Tottenham's low confidence. Curtis Jones volleyed in from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross inside three minutes before Luis Diaz turned in Cody Gakpo's pass at the near post two minutes later.
The home team appeared to have wrapped up the point when Mohamed Salah netted from the penalty spot after Cristian Romero dived in on Gakpo, but they took their foot off the gas to allow Spurs back into it. Harry Kane pulled a goal back before half-time with a volley from Ivan Perisic's cross and they built on it in the second half.
Tottenham hit the woodwork on a few occasions before Son Heung-min got in behind the Liverpool backline to beat Alisson one-on-one. Spurs had a strong shout for a penalty against Ibrahima Konate turned down before Richarlison appeared to have earned a point with a header from a deep free-kick in the 93rd minute.
But Jota latched onto Lucas Moura's wayward back-pass a second later and buried his finish in the bottom corner to complete a remarkable match.
