JURGEN KLOPP has revealed his passionate, aggressive celebration was aimed at referee Paul Tierney.
Liverpool boss Klopp, 55, was fuming with the official for a free-kick he awarded Tottenham in the build-up to Richarlison’s stoppage-time equaliser.
Jurgen Klopp stormed up to fourth official John Brookes after Liverpool’s winning goalPA
Referee Paul Tierney booked Klopp for his celebrationAlamy
But Liverpool then went straight up the other end and won the game 4-3 thanks to Diogo Jota’s dramatic strike in the dying moments.
And Klopp celebrated by storming up to fourth official John Brooks and staring him down – while also hurting his leg in the process.
He was subsequently booked for his actions, explaining after the game that he feels ref Tierney has an issue with him.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he 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.”
Klopp has history with Tierney as he previously got angry at the official in the wake of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw away at Tottenham in December 2021.
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In that incident, Klopp could be heard telling him: “I have no problem with any referees, it’s only you.”
Spurs interim boss Ryan Mason was also left fuming with Tierney as he felt Jota’s kick to the head of Oliver Skipp should have been a red card.
He said: “It’s probably the clearest red card you will see on the football pitch.
“I have to be careful what I see but ultimately that’s an impossible one to miss.
“When you talk about endangering an opponent, to draw blood from a stud when his head if 5.5ft in the air just baffles me.
“That type of decision is the difference between winning the game or not.
“For me it’s tough to understand and I’d like an explanation. I see it in real time and you have a feel for those sort of moments. The VAR official has a replay.
“I’m devastated about today because of the way the game went.”
Liverpool’s win over Spurs moves them above the Lilywhites into fifth place.
But they are still seven adrift of Manchester United and in need of a huge turnaround to clinch Champions League football.
Klopp had a run-in with Tierney following a previous Spurs gameAFP Read More