Referee who infuriated Jurgen Klopp set to not officiate either Liverpool or Manchester City games
Farrell Keeling
Referee Paul Tierney (L) gives a yellow card to Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (R) during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 19, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
With so much hanging on the line in Liverpool and Manchester City’s respective league fixtures this Sunday, some fans may be inclined to celebrate the officials appointed to manage both club’s ties.
Paul Tierney, whom Jurgen Klopp has previously clashed with, will not be taking charge of either clash involving the title chasers, as reported on Twitter by Simon Stone.
Michael Oliver + Anthony Taylor take charge of the two key PL title matches at Man City and Liverpool on Sunday. Craig Pawson + Paul Tierney will be in charge of the games at Burnley + Brentford. Martin Atkinson, Mike Dean and Jon Moss in charge for the final time.
The Reds are due to take on Wolves in their final English top-flight clash of the season – a tie that could determine the fate of the title should Aston Villa secure some kind of result against the incumbent champions at the Etihad.
Whilst we wouldn’t be so bold as to claim that Paul Tierney specifically is outright biased against Liverpool Football Club, one can only begin to imagine the controversy his appointment to a key game might inspire.
As a general rule of thumb, it has to be acknowledged that the standard of officiating in English football of late has been far from up to scratch, even with the help of video technology.
Regardless, we’re hopeful that it will be the football on the pitch over a moment of controversy that will decide the outcome of what has been a stunning campaign.
