Klopp lashes out at officials after Spurs draw

LONDON • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp went on a rant against referee Paul Tierney, after claiming Harry Kane could have broken Andy Robertson's leg with a first-half tackle that should have resulted in a red card.

The feisty 2-2 draw at Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday also saw the Reds end with 10 men after Robertson was sent off 13 minutes from time, leading Klopp to demand "objective" officials in football.

Shortly after giving Spurs the lead with his first league goal for two months, Kane launched into a lunging tackle on Robertson that had the German fuming on the touchline.

The foul received only a yellow card - one of eight dished out by Tierney in an enthralling duel.

Klopp's mood was hardly improved when the official failed to award his side a penalty for a shove on Diogo Jota, who had equalised with a header.

Tierney was not the only subject of Klopp's ire as he was booked for also lashing out at the fourth official, sarcastically bowing as he was yellow carded.

While Klopp did not have any complaints about Robertson's red card for an ugly tackle on Spurs' Emerson Royal, following a video assistant referee (VAR) check, he blasted the decision not to send Kane off.

"The result was fine but would have been different with the right decisions," he said.

"Robertson's red card proved the VAR was working because I thought maybe they were not in their office. Luckily, Robertson's leg was in the air, it was pure coincidence. If Robbo's leg is on the ground, it is a broken leg."

On the penalty claim, Klopp said: "It is incredible. (The referee) had the best spot on the pitch and doesn't give it. You will have to ask him what his problem is with me.

"I really have no idea what his problem is with me. Honestly, I have no idea. I have no problem… you just need an objective ref who sees the situations and judges them, and not opinions."

Kane, whose opener was just his second league goal in 13 games this term, later defended himself, saying: "I thought it was a strong tackle but I won the ball. On the pitch, it didn't feel like (a red card was deserved)."

However, pundits felt he was lucky to stay on the pitch, with Jamie Redknapp implying his "reputation as England captain" helped him avoid a sending-off.

The visitors were without Thiago Alcantara, who was isolating after a suspected positive Covid-19 test, while Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones were also unavailable for the same reasons, and captain Jordan Henderson was ill.

The absentees left Liverpool vulnerable to Spurs' counter-attacking style, although goals by Jota and Robertson, before his red card, looked to have clinched a ninth successive win in all competitions.

But a mistake by goalkeeper Alisson Becker gifted Son Heung-min an equaliser for the hosts.

While Antonio Conte was happy with the way his side performed after their first game in two weeks because of a Covid-19 outbreak, this was still a missed opportunity as Klopp's men were weakened.

The Italian said: "We have to be a bit disappointed for the draw. For the chances we created, we go home with the thought instead of one point, it could be three points."

Spurs will have one less trophy to play for after Uefa yesterday confirmed their exit from the third-tier Europa Conference League.

As a result of their inability to play their final group game against Rennes on Dec 9 due to their outbreak, that game was forfeited - resulting in a 3-0 loss to finish third in Group G and failure to advance to the knockout play-offs in February.

REUTERS