Liverpool may be left rueing what could have been an ideal opportunity to put the pressure on Chelsea with a big three points secured against Fulham.
It wasn’t meant to be for Arne Slot’s men, who were always going to be facing an uphill battle to fight back with only 10 men on the pitch.
Andy Robertson, who was correctly shown a red card after taking out Harry Wilson and denying the Welshman a clear goalscoring opportunity, may have quite the bone to pick with on-pitch official Tony Harrington.
The referee, with the complicity of VAR, failed to penalise what appeared to be red card-worthy offences firstly from Issa Diop and then from goalscorer Andreas Pereira against Ryan Gravenberch.
There can be no complaints over the call that left Liverpool short a man, but a little consistency in decisive decision-making surely wouldn’t do the game any harm.
Poor officiating didn’t help Liverpool
Evidently, Virgil van Dijk and Fulham’s players agreed to a certain extent, judging by conversations that took place on the pitch.
Harrington was branded ‘nervous’ by both parties in what was an erratic affair at Anfield on Saturday.
“I had conversations with the players of Fulham and we felt like the referee was nervous. He couldn’t properly communicate with Robertson I felt,” the Dutchman’s comments were relayed by BBC Sport.
“We can’t put the blame on the referee. We all speak about protecting the referee but I couldn’t speak to him. It shouldn’t be a big thing because he isn’t why we dropped points.”
Liverpool are set to next take on Southampton in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup before a Premier League rendezvous with Tottenham next Sunday.
The Premier League must raise standard of officiating
We’ve said it a million times before – but we’re sick and tired of seeing games negatively impacted by the quality of officiating.
Yes, we’ve ourselves to blame for jumping into a hole we’d have to later climb out of in the second half, but there’s really no excusing the decision-making for the Pereira and Diop decisions, in our view at least.
Protect referees, absolutely. But then at least show some commitment to improving the standard of referees entering the English top-flight.
Ultimately, it doesn’t serve the interests of the Premier League product, does it?
The ref from Kes was better than this guy. How that lunge on Robertson got a yellow only the ref and VAR know, but as they prove each week they don’t know much.
Sadly I think they do know more than people think. To be as bad as these officials are most weeks is more than coincidence, Old saying about forgive them for they know not what they do isn’t applicable.
Best league in the world and worst officials
Did this guy video Coote and carries his torch now for him.
Why does everybody ignores Gary Lineker’s analysis? 1. Wilson had absolutely no chance of getting that ball. 2. He was heading straight into thr path of VvD.
3. The ‘goal-scoring opportunity’ was not denied, it was in fact improved by being laid on a plate for Wilson’s partner.
4. Since when do referees wait to see if a goal is scored before bringing back play and giving the attacking team a second chance? Is Harrington a rugby referee?
5. The (World Cup Final!!) assistant who saved Diop was a joke. He ignored the PL’s guidelines twice by hoisting his flag immediately in tight situations. Gakpo was in line with three defenders when he gleefully waved away Diop’s potentially leg-breaking attack on Robertson, who, by the way, would have had a golden goal-scoring opportunity himself.
Same old story: let’s just hand the title to Chelsea, Man C, Palace – anybody but those bleedin’ Scousers!