Martin Atkinson was appalling in the first-half at Old Trafford today.
The referee gave Manchester United all the 50/50 decisions and somehow didn’t give a foul to Liverpool when Victor Lindelof clearly kicked Divock Origi to win the ball back in the buildup to Marcus Rashford’s goal.
VAR then didn’t disallow it – which was equally ridiculous.
Then, the ref failed to see Lindelof fouling Sadio Mane in the buildup to the Senegalese’s disallowed goal.
Journalists such as Alexey Yaroshevsky and Paul Tomkins made their feelings on Twitter very clear – as did a plethora of Liverpool fans.
The reaction was universally angry – with many labelling Atkinson a ‘disgrace’ for what seemed tantamount to home bias.
It seems we may have to beat the refs at time this season, too.
Never mind. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are good enough to beat every other team in this league.
VAR got one right, one wrong.
Atkinson got BOTH wrong.
A quick reminder as to why no English ref was present at last year’s World Cup
— Alexey Yaroshevsky (@YaroLFC) October 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/RockyKlopp/status/1185953816765784071
Martin Atkinson is absolutely awful.
— Karl (@KarlThyer) October 20, 2019
Never mind VAR for the United goal (which they have absolutely deserved for their first 45 minutes) but what is Martin Atkinson doing? Clear position to see the foul on Origi.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) October 20, 2019
Martin Atkinson cost Liverpool the league last season with his shameful decision not to give Keita a penalty vs Leicester, he is sabotaging it again this season
— John O Sullivan (@Corballyred) October 20, 2019
Atkinson had ignored fouls on Origi and Mané before Origi was fouled. He's a fucking disgrace. VAR then ignores what Gary Neville calls a clear foul. Liverpool have to overcome clear bias against black foreign players by refs.
— Paul Tomkins (@paul_tomkins) October 20, 2019
Martin Atkinson and VAR is an absolute disgrace. Robbery.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) October 20, 2019