Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

(Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

During his celebrated tenure at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp established himself as one of football’s most passionate managers—a trait that manifested not only in his enthusiastic celebrations but also in his contentious relationship with some Premier League referees.

When Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015, he brought not only his “heavy metal football” philosophy but also an uncompromising approach to match officials that would soon become a hallmark of his Premier League experience.

His animated touchline presence quickly drew attention from officials and the Football Association alike.

One of Klopp’s early disciplinary issues came in February 2019, when he was fined £45,000 after questioning referee Kevin Friend’s integrity following a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

Klopp had suggested that Friend had attempted to compensate for an earlier incorrect decision by favoring West Ham in the second half.

Perhaps the German’s most notable referee feud was with Paul Tierney, a conflict that reached its zenith in April 2023 following a dramatic 4-3 victory over Tottenham.

When Diogo Jota scored Liverpool’s winner in the 94th minute, Klopp charged toward fourth official John Brooks, celebrating wildly and injuring himself in the process.

And now former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who has since spent time as an advisor for Nottingham Forest, has revealed a row he had with the German back in 2014.

Still manager of Borussia Dortmund at that time, Klopp’s side had lost 3-0 to Real Madrid thanks to goals from Isco, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions quarter-finals.

And that temper that would characterize Klopp’s early time at Liverpool reared it’s head in the Bernabeu tunnel back then:

“Jürgen was difficult?

I had a big run in with Jürgen and I was lucky because it was at Real Madrid and he was Dortmund manager and they’d just been beaten 3-0 and I thought I had a good game,” Clattenburg said on the Overlap.

“The assessor came in from UEFA, you’ve had a good game and it was Marcelo the fullback crazy but he says ’can I have a picture?’ And I’m like ’What with me?’ And he said ’Yeah, can I have a picture.

Is that why we got beat f*cking 3-0’?”

“And I turned around and said ’You’re f*cking lucking you only f*cking got beat 3-0 now f*ck off”

“And everyone laughed but I was pleased I was in Real Madrid not Dortmund because I would have had to get out of Dortmund alive?

But that was his mentality.

What’s clear is that Klopp’s relationship with Premier League referees has been tumultuous from the beginning.

The intensity never fully disappeared, but there were noticeable efforts to channel his emotions more constructively as he matured in his role.

Read More: Borussia Dortmund CEO responds to Jurgen Klopp Red Bull criticism

Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone
For more news relating to Spurs, visit our sister site Spurs Latest Live.