Liverpool manager Klopp delivers SCATHING parting shot at Prem officials

Jurgen Klopp is taking NO prisoners on his way out of the Liverpool exit door.  

The departing Anfield manager has taken aim at matchday officials once again, stating that the people, not the technology, is the main reason he dislikes video assistant referees (VAR).

And, on that basis, if he had his choice he would vote to scrap its usage. 

Premier League clubs will vote on whether to scrap the use of VAR from next season at the annual general meeting on June 6 after Wolverhampton Wanderers formally tabled the resolution earlier this week. 

VAR was introduced ahead of the 2019-20 season and if the motion passes and clubs vote to scrap VAR entirely then officiating in the Premier League will return to its pre-VAR days.

However it is not a foregone conclusion as 14 of the 20 clubs must vote in favour of the proposed rule change. 

Wolves are the only club to so far confirm their intentions to vote to scrap VAR following a season of debate, dubiousness and acrimony. 

Liverpool suffer under VAR errors

And Liverpool, despite calling for a ‘review with full transparency’ of VAR usage back in October, appear certain to vote AGAINST scrapping its usage. 

The Reds are among the teams most hard done by with VAR this season, with that call for transparency following two erroneous calls in the September match at Tottenham Hotspur. 

First, Curtis Jones’ yellow card was upgraded to a red one and then Luis Diaz’s perfectly legitimate goal was chalked off even after a VAR check.

There was Martin Odegaard’s handball not given during Arsenal’s trip to Merseyside which should have resulted in a penalty. 

Similarly, Jeremy Doku’s last-minute foul on Alexis Mac Allister inside the box during the closing stages of Manchester City’s visit to Anfield could and should have had a profound effect on the title race. 

Liverpool’s game against West Ham at the London Stadium last month was also marred by a VAR error, with Anthony Taylor and his team of assistants neglecting to send off Lucas Paqueta for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister. 

The Reds are understood to want VAR to continue and to improve. On the evidence of this season’s decisions, improvement can’t come quick enough.

'They are not able to use it properly'

That stance is not shared by the outgoing manager, who shot from the hip during his final pre-match press conference. 

Liverpool play Wolves in Klopp’s last match on Sunday and he stated that if VAR were to be abolished he would have no complaints.

"I don't think they're [Liverpool] voting against VAR, I think they'll vote about how it gets used, because that's definitely not right," Klopp said on Friday.

"In the way they do it, I would vote against it, because these people are not able to use it properly.

 "I do not think VAR is the problem, but the way we use it is the problem. So, you cannot change the people obviously, it's clear. You need them.

"So yes, I would vote for scrapping VAR."