KLOPP'S NEW DEFENCE

Reds boss in rapid backtrack

- CHRIS McKENNA

JURGEN KLOPP backtracked almost as quickly as he ran at fourth official John Brooks.

But the claim he made on Sunday, that referee Paul Tierney’s comments to him when brandishing a yellow card were “not OK”, had already gone global by the time Klopp attempted to clarify matters yesterday.

Tierney has had to endure accusations that his behaviour when booking Klopp was unacceptable.

In fact, as Klopp revealed, all Tierney was guilty of was telling the Liverpool manager he felt his antics were worthy of a red, but that Brooks asked him to caution him.

“I expected a yellow card in that moment and he (Tierney) said to me, ‘For me it’s a red card but because of him it’s yellow’,” said the Liverpool boss.

“Showed me a yellow and smiled to my face. That’s it.