Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp asked to explain comments about referee Kevin Friend after West Ham draw

Klopp seemed to suggest that the officials’ mistake in allowing an offside James Milner to play a part in Liverpool’s first-half goal caused referee Kevin Friend to favour West Ham in the second half

Jurgen Klopp speaks to Kevin Friend at full-time (Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp has been asked for a written explanation of his comments following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at West Ham on Monday evening.

Klopp seemed to suggest that the officials’ mistake in allowing an offside James Milner to play a part in Liverpool’s first-half goal caused referee Kevin Friend to favour West Ham in the second half.

“I heard our goal was offside, I’m pretty sure the ref knew that,” Klopp said. “In 50-50 situations it was always a free-kick for the other team.”

He later added: ”We had good moments, coming through the channels and scored the goal, which I’ve now been told is offside. This explains a little bit the second half, because I think the referee knew at half-time.

“He knew it for sure at half-time, and then you saw a lot of strange situations. They were not decisive but just rhythm-breakers. That obviously didn’t help us.

“There were so many situations where it was 50-50 or 60-40... [he gave a] free-kick for the other team.”

The result meant Manchester City can overtake Liverpool at the top of the Premier League if they beat Everton on Wednesday.