Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been accused of being a hypocrite and trying to influence referees by a former Premier League match official.

Klopp Rants About Referee, Defends Mane From 'Diver' Accusations

Following the Reds’ 1-0 loss to Southampton earlier this month, the German tactician felt his side should have been awarded at least two penalties, before pointing out that United get given more spot-kicks than Liverpool.

Ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has now since weighed in on the contentious debate, calling Klopp’s antics "mind games" ahead of the champions’ league clash with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this coming Sunday.

"There were a couple of things to take from Klopp's comments," he wrote in the Daily Mail.

"First, he sounds like a hypocrite if he is suggesting United's players are looking to win penalties. The likes of Mohamed 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 was there, but that has eased massively since he left.

"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."

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