---
title: "Liverpool: Mark Halsey discusses Jurgen Klopp’s booking against West Brom"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-mark-halsey-discusses-jurgen-klopps-booking-against-west-brom-e20/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "George McGibbon"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2020-12-28T17:05:38Z"
modified: "2020-12-28T17:05:38Z"
---

# Liverpool: Mark Halsey discusses Jurgen Klopp’s booking against West Brom

**Speaking exclusively to *Transfer Tavern*, former Premier League referee Mark Halsey discussed Jurgen Klopp’s booking in Liverpool’s draw on Sunday.**

In the fixture itself, Liverpool took an early lead in the first half through Sadio Mane’s brilliantly taken finish, however, Klopp’s side failed to make their dominance of the ball count – the Reds [ended the game with 78% possession](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55382726) – as Semi Ajayi headed home a West Brom equaliser in the 82nd minute, with the game [ending 1-1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55382726).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”333244″\]

However, during the second half of the match, [Klopp was left furious](https://www.planetfootball.com/videos/watch-liverpools-jurgen-klopp-booked-after-furious-tirade-at-referee/) as a foul was awarded against Rhys Williams by referee Kevin Friend, with the German launching a verbal tirade directed towards the official, which led to Friend booking the 53-year-old.

And, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who was co-commentating on the game for Sky Sports, suggested that Klopp’s anger could have been because Friend gave the manager a ‘[cheeky smile](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-jurgen-klopp-yellow-card-23227200)‘.

“I don’t think Kevin would have been trying to antagonise him or be arrogant towards him or mimic him,” Halsey told *Transfer Tavern*. “Perhaps he just smiled in a way just, you know, to calm him down.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”339919″\]

He continued: “Anyway, I’ve been told by my former colleagues who are still active now that he’s come up to referees to shake hands and has said, ‘I’m doing this for the cameras, I don’t really like you people,’ so if you’re saying \[that\] to the officials, what would you expect?”

While Halsey claims that Klopp could well have deserved a wry smile from Freind due to his previous actions towards referees, if the official did indeed antagonise the manager with a grin, it is not exactly professional behaviour.

However, with Liverpool still sitting [three points clear at the top of the Premier League table](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/table), Klopp would do well to put this incident behind him, and rather concentrate his energy on Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures in the league, which are coming thick and fast.