Former PL referee slams Klopp ahead of Man United clash by comparing him to SAF

Mark Clattenburg calls Jurgen Klopp a ‘hypocrite’ ahead of Manchester United clash

Writing in his column for Daily Mail, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has slammed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ahead of the clash against Manchester United.

The Reds boss has in the recent pass slammed United for being awarded more penalties than his side. Clattenburg believes the Liverpool boss is trying to influence referee Paul Tierney ahead of the blockbuster clash at Anfield.

Hopefully, Tierney will ensure a fair game is played out. The match could have far-reaching implications in the title race.

While we do not welcome Klopp’s attack on United, the Reds boss does have a point. He has every right to be aggrieved after certain fouls went unpunished for his side against Newcastle United and Southampton.

While Clattenburg too agrees, he believes Liverpool players are no angels either when it comes to taking a dive.

Clattenburg went on to compare Klopp’s antics to that of United legend Sir Alex Ferguson. This pretty much makes it a slippery comment for any United fan to agree with.

“Jurgen Klopp must be getting worried, because his comments last week about Manchester United and penalties were straight out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook.”

Stroking controversy?

Clattenburg went on to add that Klopp was inadvertently trying to influence the officials as he is worried about United.

“It was mind games — an attempt to influence referee Paul Tierney and get inside his head before a huge match between Liverpool and United this Sunday.”

He went on to add that United did get the rub of the green in certain conditions. Frankly, given Clattenburg’s attack and defence of Klopp, it would appear to be more of a rant by the former referee than anything else.

It is not always that we see former officials attempt to play mind games before the game. It remains to be seen how Klopp or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer choose to respond to it.

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Clattenburg’s comments are somewhat surprising given the lead up to the match. One would be hard-pressed to find a team that does not take advantage of minor transgressions to garner an advantage.

The likes of Harry Kane do it on a regular basis and the same can be said for United players too in some circumstances.

Mindgames are a norm in football and given our rivalry with Liverpool, it is to be expected. While managers can fling what they believe, it is up to the referees to remain objective.

The fact that Clattenburg appears to hint at ‘The Sir Alex Ferguson playbooks’ hints at the officials also being a part of the problem. What Clattenburg has now done is necessarily put more spotlight on Tierney going into the weekend.