JURGEN KLOPP has revealed referee Paul Tierney’s reason for not awarding Diogo Jota a ‘blatant’ penalty in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
Emerson Royal shoved the forward to the floor in the box with the scores tied at 1-1 just before half-time but Tierney failed to point to the spot – leaving TV pundits baffled.
The officials had a stinker in North London with Harry Kane also escaping a stonewall red for a wild lunge at Andy Robertson.
Klopp was incandescent with rage at one stage and was shown a yellow card after letting rip at Tierney.
And at the end of the game footage appeared to show him telling the whistler: “I have no other problems with referees, only you.”
Soon after, the German spoke to the media and recounted what Tierney said to him.
Klopp explained: “Mr Tierney told me Diogo [Jota] stops on purpose because he wants the foul.
“First and foremost if you want to shoot you have to stop because you cannot do both.
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“It is always helpful when you play football yourself.
“When you see the situation back (Diogo Jota’s penalty appeal), the VAR is there.
“Why is he stopping? I don’t understand.
“The draw is fine. We are not crazy enough to think we cannot draw at Tottenham but these situations are crucial.
“I have no idea what his [referee Paul Tierney] problem is with me.”
Klopp was not the only one confused by Tierney’s decision to let Emerson off the hook.
Former Spurs and West Ham striker Jermain Defoe told Sky: “How is he supposed to get a shot off without slowing down?”
And Jamie Carragher added: “Yes, you cannot condone speaking to a referee but managers are emotional.
“We want managers to be honest and emotional and the decisions that go against Liverpool, it was a blatant penalty, Harry Kane should have been sent off.
“We were frustrated with VAR a year or two ago, we are OK with it at the moment but we have gone right the other way.
“Last season a touch on the ankle was a decision but now we are thinking what is the point of VAR with penalties?
“Chris Kavanagh is VAR and that has to be a penalty.
“It might have happened 100 miles-an-hour but the whole point of VAR is to help the referee.
“This is the whole point of bringing VAR in.
“The clear and obvious is a real problem because the don’t want to re-referee games. VAR helps referees on big situations and that was a big one.”
Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp was equally dumbfounded and said: “It is a horrendous decision, he just barges him.
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“At least get some opinion from VAR. Look at the position of the referee, surely he can see that.
“How has he got the ball? It is such a bad decision.
“There is not a fan of football, ex-player who would say that is not a penalty. It is a joke of a decision.”
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