Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Brentford 'stretched the rules' in win over Reds
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was critical of the officiating after watching his side lose 3-1 to Brentford in the Premier League
![Jurgen Klopp pictured during Liverpool's 3-1 loss to Brentford in January 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5SiZ7eLYYd2edaJhVKBLkE-320-80.jpg)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was unhappy at the match officials after his side's 3-1 loss to Brentford in the Premier League on Monday.
The Reds went in 2-0 down at half-time and were unable to turn things around in the second period as they went on to lose for a fifth time in the competition this season.
"Brentford could dictate the game because of how it got whistled," Klopp said after the match.
"They stretched the rules. That’s why it’s really difficult. VAR hides behind the phrase ‘not clear and obvious’. The referee needs to explain that.
"We had a meeting before the season. The behaviour in the box, the ref will whistle. They don’t do it. I don’t expect anything in our favour. There’s a reason Brentford are so successful with offensive set pieces and not defensive set pieces."
The German was particularly displeased with Brentford's third goal, believing Bryan Mbeumo's effort should have been disallowed for a foul on Ibrahima Konate.
"The third goal I really cannot respect," he said.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
And he added: "The third goal should not be a goal, easy as that! Trying to talk to the officials about it is like trying to talk to my microwave."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.
‘Phil Neville tried a lot of different ideas to get the best out of the Lionesses, but things weren’t quite right and needed ironing out – that wasn’t his fault’: Former England women's star reflects on time with national team
‘Missing the Euros was one of the toughest moments of my career – I got into a good place mentally and physically with my form, then my body broke down’: England star reflects on agonising summer