Jurgen Klopp blasted Liverpool vs Newcastle VAR official for giving controversial goal last season

Stuart Attwell has been named as the VAR official for Liverpool's New Year's Day clash with Newcastle - almost a year to the day he was harshly criticised by Jurgen Klopp for allowing a goal to stand.

The Reds take on Newcastle at Anfield to open 2024, and will go three points clear of second-placed Aston Villa with a victory at Anfield.

Liverpool have been on the end of some controversial VAR decisions in recent weeks, having seen a goal ruled out against Burnley after Mohamed Salah was ruled to be in an offside position while blocking the view of goalkeeper James Trafford.

But Klopp argued that the Egyptian was only in that position because of a push from Clarets defender Jordan Beyer, and that the goal should have stood as a result.

Back in January 2023, meanwhile, the Reds suffered a 3-1 defeat at Brentford to kick off the year in the worst possible way.

The Bees' third goal was given despite claims of a push on Ibrahima Konate from goalscorer Bryan Mbeumo, who calmly slotted the ball below Alisson to make it 3-1 and consign Liverpool to defeat.

But Klopp was furious that the decision was given to allow the goal, feeling that Attwell should have awarded a foul on the field of play.

He said (quotes via The Athletic): "If you have ever played football and run a full sprint, and you get a light push, you go down because you can't keep balance. That's how it is and you see that with Ibou [Konate].

"It's actually the same as I would talk to my microwave [speaking to the officials about the decision]. You get no response really. It's always the same.

"VAR hides behind the phrase 'not clear and obvious'. The referee needs to explain that.

"I don't expect anything in our favour, but I do expect holding is holding, pushing is pushing and fouling is fouling."

For the Newcastle clash, Klopp will be desperately hoping to avoid any more VAR dramas and kick off 2024 on the right note.