Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has taken aim at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp by calling him a ‘hypocrite’ as the German prepares to welcome Manchester United to Anfield this Sunday.
The former Premier League referee wrote in the The Daily Mail that Klopp “sounds like a hypocrite” when he suggested that Manchester United players actively try to win penalties.
Clattenburg’s comments came after Klopp raised eyebrows earlier this month when the German randomly brought up Manchester United’s penalty record his post-match interview after Liverpool lost 1-0 to Southampton.
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The 45-year-old ref went on to say: “So there were a couple of things to take from Klopp’s comments after that game,” Clattenburg wrote. “First, he sounds like a hypocrite if he is suggesting United’s players are looking to win penalties. The likes of Mo Salah and Mane are just as capable of employing similar tactics.
“He is clearly getting edgy, though, because not since Fergie have we seen such a blatant attempt to influence a referee ahead of a big game. Klopp wasn’t doing this last season when Liverpool were winning every week.
“He does not like losing, he never has. He gets prickly. But he is wrong to suggest there is an aura around United that sees them given favourable decisions. There used to be when Fergie was there, but that has eased massively since he left.
“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,” Clattenburg added.
“Klopp was correct when he said United have won more penalties in two years than Liverpool have in his five and a half at Anfield. He was smart, because his comments could not get him into trouble with the authorities.
“But let’s be clear: there is no conspiracy on the part of referees and officials. Was Klopp insinuating there is? Or was he suggesting United have players who are encouraged to dive?
“If his intention was the former, then I’ve got no time for that. It simply is not true, but if he was highlighting the ease with which some United players go down in the penalty area then, yes, I believe he was making a valid point. Even if it does ignore similar suspicions about some of his stars.”
Liverpool host Manchester United this weekend at Anfield in what could be a huge title deciding game as a win for Klopp’s team will see them go joint top with United whereas victory for Olé Gunnar Solskjaer’s men will see The Red Devils go six points clear at the top.