Angry Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticised the refereeing of Polish official Szymon Marciniak for making his side look like “butchers” in their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds boss was unhappy with the hosts’ play-acting and highlighted Neymar’s role as the Ligue 1 club consigned Liverpool to a third away defeat in Group C.
Six Liverpool players were booked and only two for PSG, although there was an argument midfielder Marco Verratti could have been sent off for an over-the-top challenge on Joe Gomez, and Klopp said it made his team look like aggressors.
“The number of interruptions in that game was just not cool,” said the German.
“Two times in a row we won the Fair Play award in England and tonight we look like butchers after the yellow cards we had.
“It was clever of PSG, especially Neymar, but a lot of other players went down like it was really something serious and we were not that calm any more.
“We were aggressive, and unfortunately negative aggression doesn’t help in football, we got rather frustrated and angry.
“But we have to deal with it, that’s our job. If the ref lets that happen then we have to deal with it.”
Asked if the referee could have handled it better Klopp added: “There are a lot of things you can do. You can give yellow cards for everything.
“If you go down, you act like you die and then the next moment you get up, yellow card. It’s possible. It’s unsportsmanlike behaviour.
“In the end, it’s hectic and everyone is going down. I don’t expect help from a ref, I just expect him to calm all these things down.
“The crowd was up, it’s really difficult and we were not calm enough. Even Joe Gomez got a yellow card. He’s the nicest boy on this planet and he was close to getting a red.”
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel disagreed, suggesting his compatriot was using it as a diversionary tactic.
“I did not feel it was such a big issue. We have five minutes overtime, we suffered a lot of fouls – you don’t have to do fouls,” he said.
“I don’t even want to talk about it because for me it is not a subject.
“When I lose big games I am angry and I talk about stuff just to bring attention away from the result. I am only talking about the game.”
Neymar scored his side’s second but, as usual, his theatrics took centre stage.
Liverpool started slowly and allowed their hosts to take a grip of the game with Juan Bernat giving them a 14th-minute lead which was doubled by Neymar starting and finishing a counter-attack.
James Milner scored a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Sadio Mane was brought down by Angel Di Maria but despite some second-half pressure the Reds could not force an equaliser.
It leaves Liverpool having to beat Napoli at Anfield either 1-0 or by two clear goals to progress to the knockout stage.
“We need Anfield again and we need to create an atmosphere which is pretty special. We know that,” Klopp said.
“But Napoli is a really strong side. If we go through we deserve it, and if not then we don’t.
“We are not afraid of that, and I believe you get what you deserve. That’s it. We have to try everything.”
