Livid Klopp holds back on criticism of officials

LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp was left enraged after Liverpool were dramatically denied a crucial victory by Tottenham in one of the games of the season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side secured a 2-2 draw at Anfield with the last kick of the game when Harry Kane joined the Premier League’s 100 Club, firing in a penalty after Virgil Van Dijk had been adjudged by assistant referee Edward Smart to have kicked Erik Lamela.

Liverpool’s furious players surrounded Jon Moss and his assistants at the final whistle. They believed a mistake had been made in not ruling Kane offside for the first penalty and then an- other mistake was made when the second spot kick.

They were pulled away by Klopp, who said he would “get one of the biggest fines in the history of football” if he voiced his true feelings. He was clearly furious as he walked off the pitch and his mood had not changed by the time he arrived in the Press auditorium.

“It’s not a penalty,” said Klopp. “It was (Fernando) Llorente with Van Dijk with the header. I've heard Lamela was offside with one leg, running into Van Dijk.

“Virgil sees him at the last moment, stops the movement but still touches him, Lamela is already on the way down. The ref- eree says keep on going, and the linesman makes the decision. That’s how it is. That’s what everybody saw.

“It was obviously not his day. The first penalty, it was one of the clearest offside situations I have seen. Unless there’s a new rule. I don’t know exactly. When the ball left the foot of the Tottenham player, Kane is offside. This situation has never changed. Dejan (Lovren) touched it.

“My defence put Kane offside, that’s good defending. I don’t know what they discussed this time, I would be really interested what the referee and assistant were saying.”

Klopp, whose side twice led through two superb goals from Mohamed Salah, added: “I am (angry). But obviously I can’t change anything. So what’s my job now? To create headlines? To be punished? To pay a fine? If I say what I think I would pay the biggest fine in world football.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.

“I have no problem with people making mistakes. But if you don’t see the situation, then step aside. I thought for the first penalty they were discussing, and saw body language. I didn’t see Jon Moss asking anything.

“At the end I’ve learned something new and now people will think I know nothing about foot-