JURGEN KLOPP saw Liverpool go top of the Prem but raged at “insane” refereeing.
Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota struck to down lowly Burnley at Turf Moor.
But the Anfield chief was furious after Harvey Elliott’s second-half goal was overturned by VAR Simon Hooper with offside Mo Salah deemed to have been in goalkeeper James Trafford’s eyeline.
Klopp, who claimed Salah was pushed into the offending position, fumed: “They will tell us again it’s an offside situation or whatever.
“It’s insane honestly. This man, if he never played football then it can happen.
“You think ‘offside rule, let me see, page seven, there’s somebody between him and the goalie’ — that’s ridiculous.
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“We all need referees but we need them with the right interpretation of the rules. How can you make this situation not a goal? That’s a clear goal.”
Klopp added: “It’s just not OK. Trafford has no chance to get to the ball.
“It was the perfect goal and Salah gets pushed into an offside position.”
Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo also had a goal scrubbed out by VAR for a tug by Nunez on Charlie Taylor.
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And Klopp’s comments will make uncomfortable reading for Hooper who was at the centre of more controversy at Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Tottenham this month.
He blew for a foul on Erling Haaland rather than playing advantage after the Norwegian had sent Jack Grealish clear through on goal.
Even so Burnley could not take advantage of their reprieve and Klopp was delighted as the Kop’s title push continued.
He said: “Forty-two points. That is really pleasing, really cool. The first part of the season is done. It was absolutely all right what we did. Not perfect, but all right.
“It keeps us so we cannot be more than a point away from the top of the table if Arsenal win, that’s within punching distance.”
‘ALIVE AND ENTERTAINING’
With Salah heading to the Africa Cup of Nations early next month, the Reds will need Nunez and Jota — who is just back from injury — to weigh in with goals.
Klopp added: “Diogo is an incredibly important player for us, having him changes the whole dynamic. The goal he scored was a goal of a boy full of conviction.
“The goal for Darwin was as important.”
Burnley lost a ninth home match out of ten in the Prem this season but boss Vincent Kompany still believes his team can come good.
He said: “We had our moments — the team fought and was alive and entertaining. It just lacks a final touch.
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“I’ve no doubt they’ll make the step.
“In my day Liverpool had one of the best sides and they are getting back to the intensity they had when I was a player.”
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Martin Blackburn
