Liverpool’s latest Premier League victory was not without controversy after former FIFA referee Keith Hackett criticised Michael Oliver’s handling of a key incident.
Our 1-0 win over Burnley saw midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu escape with only a yellow card for a reckless first-half tackle before later being dismissed for two bookings.
Refereeing decision criticised after Liverpool vs Burnley
Speaking to Football Insider, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett was blunt in his assessment.
“The challenge endangered the opponent and fulfilled the law for serious foul play,” he explained.
“The referee should have sanctioned the offence with a red card.”
Oliver’s decision to issue only a caution allowed the Burnley man to remain on the field until a second yellow arrived for a late challenge on Florian Wirtz.
It was the challenge on Alexis Mac Allister for the first caution that will bring the most criticism of Oliver though, with the World Cup winner’s ankle visibly buckling under the pressure of the challenge.
Arne Slot was forced to provide a fitness update for our No.10 after the match, after taking him off the pitch at half time.
Liverpool focus turns to consistency in Premier League
Arne Slot will know officiating consistency is crucial if we are to defend the title but this is unfortunately not something we see often in the Premier League.
It is not the first time refereeing decisions have been called into question in games involving us, and the concern is that opponents are allowed too much leniency when making risky tackles.
Hackett is never afraid of being vocal with his opinions and they often lead to criticism over the current officials, something we saw after our win over Newcastle too.
Now the Reds will sweat on Mac Allister’s fitness whilst Michael Oliver and Paul Tierney are likely allowed to continue unpunished, as usual.
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Oliver w
Very cleverly issued a yellow immediately. Had he not done so or waited for VAR to take a look, it would have been a certain sending off. Oliver was well aware turning a yellow into a red was far less likely.
One could argue that VAR should’ve communicated with Oliver to take another look at it on the monitor.
It has happened before.
It could’ve been done during the time spent treating MacA’s injury.
The slo-mo is conclusive to all those with common sense and even those with less than perfect vision.
We (Liverpool) have had players sent off for less
Not so long ago Mr Gordon @ St. James’s Park was straight redded for his mindless lunge on Van Dijk. His studs grazed across Virgil’s foot. Potential long term metatarsal injury.
This case was arguably worse.
Van Dijk possibly saw Gordon coming and was able to move his standing leg in time to just take a glancing blow.
Gordon’s intent was clear. He wanted the ball, but if hevdidn’t get it, he wanted to injure Van Dijk for advantage.
Van Dijk’s post match response was the measure of the man. Not all of of us would be do generous.
My other issue with this kind of “tackle” is how often certain perpetrators appear to try to play the scene as if they entirely innocent and the referee (and all-angle HD cameras) are the ones spinning a false picture.
If those players who are trying to hoodwink the situation for advantage really believe that, then perhaps a red and an immediate psychological assessment would be necessary ?
Players that simulate injury also muddy the waters.
Let’s get to the crux of it and play the game right, eh.
Everyone knows Oliver is anti-Liverpool, didn’t expect anything less
Oliver’s certainly swings and roundabouts with his decisions on occasion, but most refs are.
This is why we get the maddening inconsistencies with it appearing some teams get favours one day and injustices on another.
A lot of critics and referees will point out the need for common sense on occasion.
Eg. If a usually honest player commits a “grey area” infringement, the ref may let it go, but on another occasion a persistent fouler may get punished for a similar offence.
If Oliver was dead set against the Reds 100% of the time, he could’ve denied the Reds the penalty.
I’ve seen even more obvious ones kb’d.
Perhaps once players (and some managers) start playing to the spirit if the game, it’ll make refs jobs much easier to be consistent ?
Yes, referees should be squeaky clean. The Coote business is evidence that something is being done.
The huge amounts of money riding on the outcomes of games means they have to seen to be so, but much is kept behind closed doors for security’s sake.
Would greater transparency help ?
Or would it leave referees exposed to approaches from criminal syndicates ?
Does the move to referees explaining their decisions on-field (U.S. sport-style) help fans come to terms with their decisions, after all, they have a better view than most of the stadium.
Can Ai help and what might be the effects ?
😂😂😂😂Oliver gave that game to Liverpool, it’s Arsenal he hates and he couldn’t bear us being top. All the commentators said that wasn’t a second yellow card as it wasn’t malicious. He played the ball but slipped and took the man, but Oliver had to do something drastic as he was running out of time. That ref is as crooked as a nine-bob note, he will do anything to stop us. That’s two games out of 4 that have been handed to Liverpool while they’ve played absolute rubbish 😡
Perhaps Odergaard’s clear handball at Anfield a couple of seasons ago, that if given could’ve handed Liverpool the title has escaped your memory ?
Whilst one doesn’t recall who was officiating for that game, the idea that there’s targeted conspiracy against the Gunners is fanciful.
Oliver refs as he sees it. Pouting, sulking and playing him by any player or manager has never caused him to change his mind. Only VAR can advise if they see an obvious error.
The guilt on the face of the unfortunate Burnley player (and others) said they knew it was a penalty. Why he didn’t take another step nearer Frimpong to step out of the penalty area (or put his arms around his back) will probably haunt him for a bit.
Any referee showing a pattern of clear and obvious errors against one club would show up and questions would be asked.
As to the subject of your missive, one suspects Oliver may well have seen the severity of the earlier lunge on MacA for which he gave a yellow.
It’s a straight red. A possible season ender. No question about it.
Ref’s aren’t supposed to “even up” in this way, but one can see that he felt the player hadn’t calmed down.
His challenge was unnecessary and clumsy and on another day could’ve ended badly for Wirtz.
One hopes the Burnley lad has a good chat with Scott Parker and tries to cut out the recklessness from his game.
If he doesn’t (and other clubs take note), further dangerous play could cost the player’s place in the side and even cost the club points.
I don’t believe going down to ten men gave the Reds the win (it certainly wasn’t Liverpool’s finishing).
That was an unfortunate loss of concentration from one player. Parker-ing😁 the bus for over 90 minutes can have that effect. The tension got to Burnley.
As Arsenal and their fans well know, nobody wins this league playing all 38 games like Brazil’s 1970 side.
Winning ugly on occasion is required.
Those are the margins to aim for if teams want to win the EPL.
Hahaha you dont need oliver to stop you, arsenal do it themselves. Go to anfield trying to get a draw. Typical Arse that and with the squad you have should have gone for it. You only have yourselves to blame for not winning anything.
Nicely put.
The kicking of the ball out of play at the kick off summed up the attitude for me.
Spitting dummies isn’t a good look.
Arsenal need to be on their best. A £30m+ net spend greater than the Reds may not be enough to secure a title.
The minor stirrings at Spurs could suggest there’s possible moves afoot for a north London change in momentum ?