Michael Oliver was again at the centre of controversy in the Everton v Liverpool Merseyside derby match, with former PGMOL chief, Keith Hackett, saying he got a decision wrong.
It was the final derby at Goodison Park, before the Toffees move to Bramley-Moore Dock and into Everton Stadium.
Michael Oliver got it wrong says Keith Hackett
The match seemed to be going relatively well until Everton equalised in the 98th-minute, when all hell broke loose after James Tarkowski fired in an incredible leveller.
Match official, Oliver, trying to keep control, sent off three people, including Liverpool manager, Arne Slot.
There appeared to be suggestions that in the lead up to Everton’s equaliser, Oliver didn’t see a blatant foul which would’ve seen Liverpool win the game as Tarkowski’s strike would’ve been ruled out.
Michael Oliver won’t take charge of future Arsenal v Man City matches because of controversy, and England legend, Alan Shearer, has recently criticised Oliver too.
It was well before the injury-time controversy in Wednesday night’s game that Keith Hackett, the former head of PGMOL, believed that Michael Oliver wasn’t having his best night.
Not the best night for Michael Oliver in the Merseyside derby
“Liverpool were on the wrong end of a poor decision by Michael Oliver to award Everton a free kick which led to their first goal,” he said to Football Insider.
“There was no foul. Oliver got it wrong.”
Though Hackett’s observations will be welcomed by Liverpool fans, that’s unlikely to dampen their ire after Everton were able to grab a point at the death.
It would seem that a potential foul in the lead up to the hosts second goal wasn’t spotted by the official and that, coupled with the most marginal offside decisions going in Everton’s favour thanks to VAR, will almost certainly leave a sour taste in the mouth.
HA hA liverpool not getting a crucial decision WHATS NEW
The Everton dogs of war played Stone Age football and got a point we move on
If that’s the type of game we want pre 60s we’re a clear foul goes unpunished and frustration boils over then ok just tell us mr oliver
Dou ours is a disgrace he was just provoking liverpool fans me thinks he has. A inferiority complex when he watches pure class in the red shirts
Come on Eddie, be more grown up about this. Everton played really well, probably the best they have this season. No one was more of a wind up merchant than G Neville, a bit of banter shouldn’t have caused that scuffle. If a frustrated Jones, angry at another 2 points dropped hadn’t angrily gone over then this would not have happened. Let us be honest some of our lads were not up for an old fashioned derby and they bullied us for most of the game. The most worrying thing is the last few results – Man U dropped 2 points from a winning position, same as at Newcastle now Everton, I forget but I think there is another game this happened, right now we should be at least 12 – 13 points clear, we are slowly throwing away the league. My nightmare at the end of the season, NO TITLE – NO VVD – NO MO & NO TRENT. Then given our owners, NO INVESTMENT – NO IMPROVMENT – MID TABLE
The 245th Merseyside Derby is set to be a tense and tactical battle at Goodison Park. While Liverpool are chasing the Premier League title, Everton are determined to make their final home derby at this historic ground one to remember. David Moyes’ men will look to frustrate their rivals with a compact defensive setup, while Liverpool will rely on their star attackers to break through. Here complete blogs… https://www.stats24.com/football/news-bet-builder-everton-vs-liverpool-4048