Jurgen Klopp has hit back at suggestions Diogo Jota should have been sent off for a high boot on Oliver Skipp, claiming the Tottenham midfielder could have been dismissed earlier for a challenge on Luis Diaz in Sunday's chaotic 4-3 win.
And the Reds manager has once more taken aim at referee Paul Tierney, this time for not giving a free-kick on Mohamed Salah just moments before Richarlison equalised to make it 3-3 late on at Anfield.
The Reds raced into a three-goal lead after 15 minutes through goals from Curtis Jones, Diaz and Mohamed Salah, who scored from the penalty spot after Cristian Romero had fouled Cody Gakpo.
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However, Spurs gradually fought their way back into the game thanks to efforts from Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and substitute Richarlison, who thought he had rescued a point with a 93rd-minute leveller.
Substitute Jota struck his fifth in four goals seconds later to give Liverpool the points but the Portugal international was only on the pitch after he was given a yellow card for a high boot on Skipp that required the England U21 international to leave the pitch with a head-wound for Richarlison.
Asked about the decision not to red card Jota, Klopp said Skipp was fortunate to be on the pitch to begin with after he had caught Diaz with a high challenge in the first half and the Reds boss blasted official Tierney, referencing a game he took charge of between the two teams in December 2021 when he sent off Andy Robertson and opted only to book Kane for a poor challenge earlier in the game.
"I heard from a colleague of yours that Skipp shouldn’t be on the pitch because of a challenge on Luis Diaz earlier in the game," Klopp said in his post-match press conference. "I didn’t remember it but your colleague from Sky or wherever asked me about it. Do you have that situation in your mind?
"We got a red card for a similar situation, that’s true, but Diogo was not at all intentional - he didn’t see the head and went then with the foot. The foot was high and Skipp went with the head there. That can happen. If he gives a red card, we cannot change that. That’s how it is. I really think Ryan Mason has other things to worry about. I really think. But that’s how it is."
Klopp was caught on camera nursing a hamstring injury as he tried to celebrate Liverpool's winning goal and the Reds boss says the issue was a "fair punishment" for his reaction to the fourth official that got him cautioned.
He added: "How's my hamstring? Bad enough. So that's a fair punishment for behaving not the right way. That’s it. I have pain for a few days, Mr Tierney not. I will be ready to do what I always do and the celebrations if we have something to celebrate will be much calmer."
"The problem is I have to mention it because you don’t speak about it. Paul Tierney gave us, in a season which was quite important, he didn’t give Harry Kane a red card - I love Harry Kane, what a player, today again – my god - he’s pretty much unplayable.
"That day, he didn’t get a red card but Robbo got a red card. We drew 2-2, you might remember it? (December 2021). It was not the first time, there are so many things. Just little ones and nobody in the stadium wanted the foul in the situation with Mo Salah, the linesman was completely calm – both hands down, and he whistled.
"Of course we are emotional in these moments. It’s difficult. It is not okay we shouldn’t do that, yes, we are role models, all clear. But we are human beings first and foremost.
"Before you are a role model you’re a human being and that happens in the moment. But I didn’t say a bad word to the fourth official – not at all – and he wouldn’t have deserved it anyway because he didn’t do anything wrong but I turned around to the fourth official, celebrated in that direction and pulled my hamstring probably in that moment.
"So fair enough, all good. I’m already punished, I got a yellow card on top of that, I think he thought I should have got a different punishment but because of the fourth official, it was a yellow card. That’s it. We have to ask Mr Tierney what is going on."
In an earlier interview with Sky Sports, Klopp said: "We have our history with Tierney, I really don't know what he has against us. He has said there [are] no problems but that cannot be true? How he looks at me, I don't understand it. In England nobody has to clarify these situations, it's really tricky and hard to understand. What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK."
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