Liverpool’s Klopp reveals what referee said in confrontation

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealed the comment referee Paul Tierney made to him as he was booked for his celebration in his side’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

Liverpool threw away an early three-goal lead against Spurs, culminating when Richarlison netted a stoppage-time equaliser. However, after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota scored the winner just a minute later, Klopp celebrated by confronting fourth official John Brooks.

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Tierney handed Klopp a yellow card, but the Liverpool boss said after the match he was angered by remarks the referee made to him on the touchline, describing them as “not OK.”

In a news conference Tuesday ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Fulham, Klopp disclosed what Tierney said: “I couldn’t get close to the fourth official, I felt my muscle [after pulling a hamstring]. That’s it. Then Paul Tierney came over to me, I didn’t expect a red. I expected yellow. He said to me: ‘For me it’s red, but because [you taunted the fourth official], it’s yellow.’ I said, ‘Red card for what?’

“I went in, tried to calm down and couldn’t when I spoke to [the] press. Then I said that what he said was ‘not OK.’ I thought it wasn’t OK because it wasn’t a red but I opened the box with that. I should’ve just said he said it was a red card. Rest was how I felt at that moment.”

British media reported on Tuesday that Klopp faces a lengthy ban for his celebration, with the English Football Association expected to take a firm line to show it is protecting match officials.

When asked about a potential ban, the German coach said he regretted his actions and is bracing for punishment: “I shouldn’t have said what I said, but I didn’t lie.

“It’s not in my hands what goes on now. We won a game 4-3 in a spectacular manner and [the] only headlines I created [were negative]. We expect a reaction because everyone tells us [a punishment] will come.”

Klopp sustained a hamstring injury during the celebration, which he said would be severe enough to keep a player out for six weeks.