Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool defender Andy Robertson was lucky to avoid a broken leg as he blasted referee Paul Tierney for not showing a “100% red card” to Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.
Kane was only booked after catching Robertson with a poor challenge midway through the first half of a volatile 2-2 Premier League draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Robertson was later on dismissed on the recommendation of VAR Chris Kavanagh after a foul on Tottenham defender Emerson Royal, while Liverpool were denied a clear penalty before the interval when Diogo Jota was shoved in the back.
Klopp – who was booked shortly after the penalty incident for complaining – was captured on television after the match telling Tierney: “I have no problems with referees, only you.”
And while having no complaints with Robertson’s dismissal, the Reds boss was unhappy with the two key decisions that went against his team.
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“The game would have been completely different with two key decisions the first half,” said Klopp.
“Robbo, we saw it back and you can give a red card. It’s not the harshest ever but it’s not the smartest as well. He knows that.
“He is a really good boy but he lost it a little bit so this red card you can give.
“This is proof VAR was there today but before that we thought he might not be in his office because of the two other situations.
“I think we all agree that Harry Kane should have seen a red card and he didn’t.
“The penalty decision, Mr Tierney told me he thought Diogo Jota stopped on purpose and wanted to get hit.
“If you watch the situation back, it’s a very exclusive view.
JURGEN KLOPP: Full-time exchange between Reds boss and referee Tierney caught by Sky cameras
“It’s really difficult to do these things that quickly. I’m not sure why it was a very quick decision from him. He saw it and I’m not sure he was prepared for it or whatever, but if you watch the situation, how can he (the referee) react that quick?
“It’s a clear penalty but he thought it was clearly not a penalty. Wow.
“That’s obviously two wrong decisions from him I would say and one right, and all three against us.”
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After Kane had scored the opener in the 13th minute, Diogo Jota and Robertson netted either side of half-time before Heung-Min Son capitalised on a mistake by Alisson Becker to equalise.
And asked if the fact Kane is the England captain had a bearing on his failure to be dismissed, Klopp added: “I have no idea. Really you have to ask not me but you have to ask the VAR.
“That’s a clear, absolutely 100% red card. Very often you don’t see it clearly, but this situation if Andy Robertson’s foot is still on the ground, his leg is broke and we all agree on that.
“Luckily for both it was in the air. It’s still a red card but the ref saw it differently.”
