Klopp Says Referee Tierney Has Something ‘Against’ Liverpool

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 30, 2023 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 30, 2023 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
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Klopp Says Referee Tierney Has Something ‘Against’ Liverpool

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 30, 2023 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 30, 2023 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

Juergen Klopp accused referee Paul Tierney of having something "against" Liverpool after their thrilling 4-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Liverpool led 3-0 after 15 minutes but were pegged back to 3-3 when Richarlison headed past Alisson in stoppage time, with Klopp protesting a free-kick awarded to Tottenham in the build-up to the equalizer.

Diogo Jota then scored Liverpool's winner a minute later and Klopp confronted the fourth official before racing down the touchline to celebrate - for which he was shown a yellow card by Tierney.

Klopp has criticized Tierney in the past, saying he should have shown Spurs striker Harry Kane a red card for a dangerous tackle in a meeting between the sides in 2021, and on Sunday the German manager said Liverpool have "history" with the referee.

"I really don't know what he has against us," Klopp told Sky Sports. "He has said there is no problems but that cannot be true.

"How he looks at me, I don't understand it ... My celebration was unnecessary, which is fair, but what he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK."

Klopp did not provide further details on the incident.

Referee's body PGMOL said they were aware of Klopp's comments, adding: "Match officials in the Premier League are recorded in all games via a communications system.

"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."

Klopp has been punished for comments about referees in the past. He was fined 45,000 pounds ($56,502) by the FA in 2019 for remarks about Kevin Friend.



Mbappe Sends France Past Germany to Claim Nations League Bronze

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Mbappe Sends France Past Germany to Claim Nations League Bronze

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday.

Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad, AFP reported.

Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colors.

Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equalizer, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the half-way line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise.

The French showed their incredible depth, while Mbappe again demonstrated his finishing and pace.

For Germany, who lost two straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann.

In the lead-up to Sunday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany "isn't the most important game for us," with a clear focus on next year's World Cup.

Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots.

Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes including bringing striker Niclas Fuellkrug back into the starting XI.

The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty but it was overturned by VAR for diving with. Florian Wirtz hit the post.

Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over the 1.77-meter tall Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot.

Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends Undavhad the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up by Fuellkrug.

Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France's lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe.

Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minutes. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France.

The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the half-way line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining.

Later on Sunday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain face Portugal in Munich to decide this year's crown.