The reason Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has a long-standing feud with referee Paul Tierney

Jurgen Klopp reignited his feud with referee Paul Tierney during Liverpool’s dramatic 4-3 victory against Tottenham Hotspur.

When Diogo Jota broke through and scored the winner on 94 minutes, Klopp angrily ran straight up to fourth official John Brooks, pulling his hamstring in the process.

After the game, Klopp revealed his anger was due to Tierney giving a soft foul against Mohamed Salah on Ben Davies in the build-up to Spurs' dramatic equaliser.

When asked to explain his anger at the fourth official Klopp to Sky Sports: "How can they give a foul by Mohamed Salah [before Spurs' third goal]? We have our history with [Paul] Tierney, I really don't know what this man 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. But again? He was reffing against Tottenham [in 2021] where Harry Kane should have got a red card. And I love this player, crazy player and I don't want him to get a red card, but he should. And it's Mr Tierney. It's really tricky and hard to understand."

The Liverpool manager also claimed what Tierney said to him when issuing a yellow card was “not okay”

However, the PGMOL says it has assessed the case using Tierney's recorded audio from the match and there is no reason to discipline the referee for what he said.

Klopp’s past feud with Tierney

Tierney has taken charge of 23 Liverpool games in the Premier League and two in the FA Cup since January 2017. While the Reds won seven of their first eight league matches refereed by Tierney, since a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal in July 2020 they have claimed just six wins from 15.

There have also been a series of flashpoints that may have contributed to a feud. The first came in Project Restart in July 2020 when Tierney was accused by Klopp of missing a foul on Georginio Wijnaldum in a game with Aston Villa.

With Anfield empty amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the exchange was more audible than usual. Tierney reportedly replied: “I missed it Jurgen. I'm like players, I'm going to make mistakes. I missed it. Get over it.”

In January the following season Liverpool hosted United and Klopp appeared stunned on the sidelines when Tierney blew a few seconds early for half-time with Sadio Mane looking to run through on goal. The game finished goalless.

Another clash between the pair came during a dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham in December 2021 when Klopp confronted Tierney and said he had “no problem with any referees… only you.”

Klopp felt Harry Kane should have been sent off for a tackle on Andy Robertson. And later in the game Robertson was himself dismissed for a reckless hack on Emerson Royal after Tierney checked VAR. It was claimed at the time that Klopp waited for Tierney in the tunnel at half-time.

After the game, Klopp told Sky Sports: "I really have no idea what his [Tierney] problem is with me. Honestly, I have no idea.

"You just need an objective ref who sees the situations and trust them. He told me that he thinks he [Jota] stops on purpose. That's incredible.

"He had the best spot on the pitch, he was eight yards away and doesn't give it. We have to ask him, what's his problem."

Topics: Football, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.