Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he should not have celebrated in the fourth official’s face following Liverpool’s stoppage time winner over Tottenham on Sunday, though he also claimed he ‘didn’t say anything wrong’ before being shown the yellow card.
His latest comments came after he had accused referee Paul Tierney of having something against his side following a string of spats.
‘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’, he explained after the game.
“I really don’t know what this man has with us?” 😠
Jurgen Klopp on referee Paul Tierney. pic.twitter.com/bbQ150RjMF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2023
The Reds boss has since calmed down, and admitted that he was emotional at the time.
“The whole situation should not have happened at all. It was out of emotion, out of anger, which is never a good leader for the things you do. That’s why I celebrated the way I celebrated.
There was a situation with a foul on Mo [Salah], which was directly in front of my eyes. Then another free-kick and then the [Richarlison] goal. Then a minute later we score, which is usually a moment you should just be happy, but unfortunately I was still kind of angry, which led to the way I celebrated”, he told the media ahead of his side’s clash with Fulham.
Jurgen Klopp pulled his hamstring celebrating that Jota goal 😅 pic.twitter.com/TLMvNCVrsn
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 30, 2023
“Paul Tierney came over to me and I didn’t expect a red card at all. I expected a yellow card. He said to me ‘for me it’s a red card, but because of him [John Brooks] it’s yellow’. That’s what I understood. He showed me a yellow card and smiled in my face. That’s it. I was like ‘red card for what?!’ and stood there.”
“I know Paul Tierney is not doing this on purpose. Absolutely not. “We won a game 4-3 in a spectacular manner, and the only headlines are what I created, and I regret that. I have no clue what happens now. We expect a reaction.”
Tierney will not take charge of a Premier League match this weekend with an investigation ongoing, while Klopp is expected to receive a touchline ban thanks to his conduct.
