Jurgen Klopp has been accused of trying to influence Premier League referees.
Klopp criticised Manchester United’s penalty record after Liverpool lost to Southampton last week, claiming they have won more than his own side.
But former top-flight official Mark Clattenburg took aim at the German, calling him a ‘hypocrite’ for trying to cite favouritism towards the Old Trafford club.
Clattenburg alleges that Klopp’s remarks were a ‘blatant attempt’ to sway referees ahead of Sunday’s clash with current leaders United at Anfield.
“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,” he told the Daily Mail.
“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.
“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.”
He added: “He sounds like a hypocrite if he is suggesting United’s players are looking to win penalties.
“The likes of Mo Salah and (Sadio) 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 (Sir Alex Ferguson) was there, but that has eased massively since he left.
“I am the only referee to give three penalties to the opposition at Old Trafford, and that was for Liverpool, of all teams, in 2014.
“But David Moyes was manager – I’m not sure that would have happened when Fergie was there!”