Liverpool could also be left rueing what may have been a really perfect alternative to place the stress on Chelsea with a giant three factors secured in opposition to Fulham.
It wasn’t meant to be for Arne Slot’s males, who have been at all times going to be dealing with an uphill battle to struggle again with solely 10 males on the pitch.
Andy Robertson, who was appropriately proven a pink card after taking out Harry Wilson and denying the Welshman a transparent goalscoring alternative, could have fairly the bone to choose with on-pitch official Tony Harrington.
The referee, with the complicity of VAR, didn’t penalise what gave the impression to be pink card-worthy offences firstly from Issa Diop after which from goalscorer Andreas Pereira in opposition to Ryan Gravenberch.
There may be no complaints over the decision that left Liverpool brief a person, however a bit consistency in decisive decision-making certainly wouldn’t do the sport any hurt.
Poor officiating didn’t assist Liverpool
Evidently, Virgil van Dijk and Fulham’s gamers agreed to a sure extent, judging by conversations that came about on the pitch.
Harrington was branded ‘nervous’ by each events in what was an erratic affair at Anfield on Saturday.
“I had conversations with the gamers of Fulham and we felt just like the referee was nervous. He couldn’t correctly talk with Robertson I felt,” the Dutchman’s feedback have been relayed by BBC Sport.
“We will’t put the blame on the referee. All of us discuss defending the referee however I couldn’t communicate to him. It shouldn’t be a giant factor as a result of he isn’t why we dropped factors.”
Liverpool are set to subsequent tackle Southampton within the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup earlier than a Premier League rendezvous with Tottenham subsequent Sunday.
The Premier League should elevate normal of officiating
We’ve mentioned it 1,000,000 instances earlier than – however we’re sick and bored with seeing video games negatively impacted by the standard of officiating.
Sure, we’ve ourselves in charge for leaping right into a gap we’d should later climb out of within the second half, however there’s actually no excusing the decision-making for the Pereira and Diop selections, in our view a minimum of.
Shield referees, completely. However then a minimum of present some dedication to enhancing the usual of referees coming into the English top-flight.
In the end, it doesn’t serve the pursuits of the Premier League product, does it?
