Jurgen Klopp has apologised for the way in which he acted during Sunday's 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds' boss has been heavily criticised by former Premier League officials Keith Hackett, Mark Clattenburg and Peter Walton over the way in which he celebrated in the face of fourth official John Brooks before accusing Paul Tierney of uttering an inappropriate comment and questioning what Tierney has against Liverpool.
Asked to comment on the events of Sunday afternoon when speaking at his press conference this afternoon, Klopp told reporters: "The whole situation shouldn't have happened at all. It was out of emotion, anger and that is never a good leader for the things you do. I was still angry, which led to the way I celebrated.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp's feud with Paul Tierney leaves Liverpool in undignified situation
READ MORE: PGMOL make Paul Tierney Premier League decision after Liverpool controversy
“I didn’t say anything wrong. I was shouting ‘Without you’, without you’. It doesn’t even make a lot of sense, but that was all. I couldn’t really get close to the fourth official and I didn’t want to get close to him, not at all. I then felt my muscle and Paul Tierney came over to me and I didn't expect a red card. I know I had a red card not too long ago and I didn’t expect for a second a red card because I didn’t feel it was right. I expected a yellow card in that moment and he said to me ‘For me, it’s a red card but because of him [fourth official] it’s yellow’. He showed me a yellow card and smiled at my face, that’s it. Red card for what? We then go inside, I tried to calm down and it didn’t work out properly. I go into all the interviews and then I said what I said.
"Maybe I should have said he told me it was a red card and I didn't think it was. The rest of the things I said about how I feel about Paul Tierney whistling his games, I'm sure he is not doing intentionally but there is history. These things that happened in the past, in decisive games, happened. That's a feeling, nothing else."
When speaking after the game on Sunday afternoon, Klopp said of Tierney: "We have our history with Tierney. I really don’t know what he has against us. He has said there is no problems, but that cannot be true. How he looks at me, I don’t understand it. What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK. I will not say anything. The refs don’t say what is said, so I don’t.”
There have been suggestions the German could be set for an extended touchline ban, having already been involved in an incident of a similar nature during the Reds' 1-0 home win over Manchester City in October. Klopp was dismissed by fourth official Andy Madley after confronting assistant referee Gary Beswick for failing to address Bernardo Silva's foul on Mohamed Salah during the latter stages of the contest and later handed a one-match ban from the dugout.
READ NEXT:
- Mark Clattenburg slams Jurgen Klopp for touchline behaviour and demands a ban
- Liverpool fans angry with Gallagher ‘double standards’ after Haaland comments
- Alex Ferguson decision hints at punishment Jurgen Klopp could receive
- I don't know where Liverpool go next with Paul Tierney after latest Klopp clash
- Liverpool could make double change as Darwin Nunez dilemma continues for Jurgen Klopp
