FA To Investigate Jürgen Klopp's Post-Match Comments Regarding Referee Paul Tierney After Liverpool 4-3 Win Over Spurs.

Jurgen Klopp has found himself at the centre of controversy following his accusations against referee Paul Tierney, and the Liverpool boss could likely face a major punishment from The FA.

Klopp had accused referee Paul Tierney of saying something “unacceptable” to him towards the end of Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday evening.

In just three minutes into the dramatic encounter at Anfield stadium, Curtis Jones, who has not had the best of times this season, scored his first club goal since September 2021 with a volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold cross down the right. 

The clever finish from the 22-year-old English midfielder, was immediately followed two minutes later by the second Liverpool’s goal which probably tasted even sweeter for Luis Diaz who scored his first league goal since 27th August, 2022 (246 days ago), after a long road to recovery from injury.

It was the Colombian winger's first start for the Reds since October 9 against Arsenal.

Mohamed Salah added a third in the 15th minute in his 300th appearance in a Liverpool's jersey. It was the Egyptian's 184th goal which moved him into sixth place on the club’s all-time scorers’ list.

Tottenham scored in the 40th minute to reduce the deficit just before halftime, courtesy Harry Kane's goal.

Ryan Mason's men battled back late in the second half, as Heung-min Son netted the second goal for Spurs in the 77th minute, and Richarlison scores his first league goal for Spurs to level the scores in the third minute of stoppage-time.

Just a reminder that the Brazilian forward had took his shirt off 3 times this season, 2 of them were disallowed goals and the other only lasted a minute until Diogo Jota scored the heartbreaking goal to seal all three points for the Reds, sending the home fans, and his manager wild.

Klopp had to celebrate Jota’s dramatic winning goal in front of fourth official John Brooks, puling his hamstring in the process.

The Liverpool's boss has been criticized for his stomping celebration in the face of fourth official as inexcusable, and his suggestion that Paul Tierney has some sort of agenda against Liverpool was inexcusable.

"Jurgen Klopp must be hit hard for his inexcusable behaviour and referee accusations"... Says a critic.

"This questions the integrity of a professional!" 😨

"Klopp needs to be held accountable!" 😡

"Either the PGMOL are liars, or Klopp is!" 👀

Simon calls for the PGMOL to release Paul Tierney's audio after comments from #LFC's Jurgen Klopp. pic.twitter.com/UKhVdp9vz1

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) May 1, 2023

 Klopp revealed after the game that the anger was due to Tierney giving a soft foul against Mo Salah on Ben Davies in the build-up to Spurs' equaliser for 3-3.

Klopp and Tierney have a long-held feud which dates back to December 2021, when the Liverpool boss told the referee - coincidentally after a match against Tottenham - that he "has no problem with any referees, except you".

"How can they give a foul by Mohamed Salah before Spurs' third goal?" Klopp told Sky Sports when asked to explain his anger at the fourth official.

Klopp also claimed what Tierney had said to him when showing him a yellow card - which he did not give any specific information on - was "not okay".

Klopp said: "My celebration towards the fourth official, I didn't say any bad words or nothing unnecessary, which is fair. I got my punishment by pulling my hamstring. But what he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not okay."

The refereeing body the PGMOL has dismissed allegations of wrongdoing against the official after assessing the case using Tierney's recorded audio from the match, and sees no reason to discipline the referee for what he said.

A statement read: "PGMOL is aware of the comments made by Jurgen Klopp after his side's fixture with Tottenham Hotspur.

"Match officials in the Premier League are recorded in all games via a communications system and having fully reviewed the audio of referee Paul Tierney from today's fixture, we can confirm he acted in a professional manner throughout including when issuing the caution to the Liverpool manager so, therefore, we strongly refute any suggestion that Tierney's actions were improper."

The FA will now investigate the incident, with Klopp likely to face a lengthy ban if it is proven that he accused Tierney wrongly. 

Klopp further admitted his team "got away with" the win against Spurs having bottled a three goal lead.

"For a long period of the first half it was the best game we had played so far," said Klopp. "The first half was good, we conceded a goal but it was the first time we didn't defend properly.

"The problem is Tottenham do not change at all, they go for counter-attacks even at 3-1 down. They just defend, counter-attack and get set-pieces and that makes it tricky.

"We got away with it thanks to Diogo Jota, it makes it spectacular and everybody goes home buzzing, but I am the manager of the team so I have to mention everything else as well. In three days' time against Fulham we have to do better."