Jordan Henderson has jokingly been called out for ‘trash talking’ officials and labelled a ‘troublemaker’ by legendary referee Dr. Felix Brych.
The official, while still an active referee, is now an UEFA ambassador for Munich. And with only captains allowed to approach officials during Euro 2024 following an implementation of new rules, the 48-year-old has recalled some of his previous run-ins with former Liverpool captain Henderson, as well as his deputy at Anfield, James Milner.
“I got along with all the players very well, but in every game there was always my troublemaker,” Brych told talkSPORT. “Looking back on many games at Anfield with Liverpool, when I saw Jordan Henderson, I knew I had to keep an eye on him.
READ MORE: Diogo Jota jeered after Cristiano Ronaldo clash as Portugal training session descends into chaos
READ MORE: Luis Diaz on receiving end of horror tackle that sparks mass brawl and two red cards
“”Come on it’s not a foul, you can do it in Germany, but in England we want to let the game flow’. It was always this kind of trash talk, but I liked it and I got used to it. It was fun and games.
“He was talking all throughout the game. Also, James Milner. Sometimes he was quiet, sometimes he was talking a lot and like you do, you talk in a different way.
“In Germany, talking is much more aggressive. In England you talk in a different way, I knew that before the game.”
Meanwhile, Brych also admitted his relationship with Jurgen Klopp changed after the former Liverpool manager left the Bundesliga.
“I met Jurgen Klopp in Germany 20 years ago, but in England it was a different relationship with him,” he conceded. “If you know someone better than the others, they think you might favour them. I cannot give any kind of bonus to anybody.”
Brych has overseen eight Liverpool matches to date, dating back to the 2008/09 season. The Reds have run out winners on four occasions and lost three times, with the most memorable meetings being when the referee ran the rule over their Champions League quarter-final and semi-final victories over Manchester City and AS Roma at Anfield in 2017/18.
He has handed out 14 yellow cards to nine different Liverpool players across such games with Henderson – who turns 34 today – and Trent-Alexander Arnold the worst offenders. They have been cautioned three times apiece by Brych, while Milner has also been booked by him twice.