May 2 – Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is facing his second touchline ban of the season if, as expected, he is charged for his comments about referee Paul Tierney after Sunday’s injury-time 4-3 win over Tottenham.
Klopp celebrated Liverpool’s late winner by charging towards the fourth official – pulling a hamstring in the process – before being handed a caution by Tierney who he later claimed had an agenda against his club.
“We have our history with Mr. Tierney. I really don’t know what this man has with us. I really don’t know,” charged Klopp. “What he said to me then when he gave me the yellow card … it’s not OK.”
English football’s refereeing body, the PGMOL, whose officials wear microphones, disputed Klopp’s claims, saying that Tierney ‘acted in a professional manner throughout’.
Klopp had criticised Tierney for awarding Tottenham a free kick that led to their equaliser for 3-3, the Londoners having been three goals down.
His comments were somewhat rich given that Diogo Jota, who scored Liverpool’s dramatic winner, should not even have been on the pitch because of an earlier high-footed challenge into the head of Oliver Skipp that drew blood and needed lengthy treatment before being substituted.
Spurs interim manager Ryan Mason was furious saying the foul merited a straight red card and demanded an explanation.
Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League in each of Klopp’s previous six full seasons at the club, going on to win the title in 2019 against Tottenham and losing two other finals to Real Madrid.
Playing in the second-tier Europa League next season would likely cost Liverpool about €50 million in lost prize money from UEFA.
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