Jurgen Klopp hits back at journalist over VAR question

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was not happy when asked a question about the continued use of VAR in English football.

Refereeing decisions aided by the use of VAR have dominated headlines since its introduction to football towards the end of the 2010s, while there have been numerous controversies this season.

The Reds were notably aggrieved when a communication error led to a goal in their eventual 2-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in September being wrongly ruled out for offside.

More recently, Liverpool were denied a penalty in their 1-1 draw at home to title rivals Arsenal when the ball clearly struck the arm of Martin Odegaard in the 18-yard-box and had a goal in their 2-0 win at Burnley disallowed for a soft foul by Darwin Nunez.

At a press conference ahead of Monday's visit of Newcastle United, Klopp was asked whether VAR should still be used in English football, but he did not take kindly to the question.

"I really don't think that I should answer this question," he snapped. "You know, it's not that you use me. I give you too often the opportunity to use my phrases, and then it's intended to set the things we discussed is not interesting anymore. It's just 'what Klopp said' and it doesn't help. And that's what I cannot.

"It's not meant to be like that, but it will be used like that. We agree? What I say now is, 'Klopp says', and with the problem we all see every day, pretty much whenever we watch a game and think, 'OK, how is that possible?' The two goals against us for us, I say, are both legitimate goals in all these countries.

"We can talk on and on and on and on, we know it already. The authorities probably know it already. What do you mean? But they have to be brave. What do you mean?

"Take away VAR? Oh my God. Take VAR away. No. Using VAR better is probably the right thing and I think could be done."

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