Speaking with referees is like talking to my microwave, says Liverpool’s Klopp

London: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said there is no point raising complaints with Premier League referees as it is like speaking to a microwave, with the German left fuming by the officiating in their 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Monday.

Klopp said Brentford were “stretching the rules” with their pushing and holding, especially at set-pieces, and thought Bryan Mbeumo’s third goal should have been ruled out for a foul.

When asked whether he had spoken to the match officials about the issue, Klopp told beIN Sports: “Yeah, but actually that’s exactly the same as I would talk to my microwave, you get no response, really. It’s always the same.

“Before the season they gave us advice that the players have to be careful in these moments because the refs will have an eye on it. You see in these games pretty much everything is allowed, it’s always on the edge and they are using it.”

Virgil van Dijk was one of three Liverpool players to come off at halftime but Klopp confirmed the defender was substituted due to a niggle, while the other two - Harvey Elliott and Konstantinos Tsimikas - were for tactical reasons.

“Virgil felt a little bit the muscle and said it is fine, and he is a very good judge of these kind of things. But I didn’t want to take any risks,” Klopp said.

“The physios looked quite happy when I said we don’t take risks. It’s not an injury, he just felt the intensity.”

Liverpool remain sixth in the league, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who have played a game less.

Meanwhile, Leeds United have signed Austrian defender Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg on a 4-1/2 year deal for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League side announced yesterday.

Wober was the Austrian league's most expensive signing when Salzburg, then coached by current Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, bought him from Sevilla for 10.5 million euros in 2019.

The 24-year-old has won the Austrian League and Cup double three times in a row, in 125 appearances with Salzburg and joins former team mates Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen at Leeds.

Wober, who has played 13 times for the Austrian national team, is capable of playing either as a centre back or a left back.

Leeds are 14th in the Premier League and next play West Ham United today.