The rescheduled Merseyside derby at Goodison Park is just over two weeks away, and one recent update may worry Liverpool fans. Originally set for December 7, the match was postponed to February 12 due to Storm Darragh. This derby will be the last league encounter at Goodison Park before Everton’s move to a new stadium.
Liverpool’s recent record at Goodison has been poor, with only two wins there since October 2011. The latest news about the match might leave some fans feeling even less hopeful about their chances.
Michael Oliver has been appointed as the referee for the derby, with Chris Kavanagh handling VAR duties. Meanwhile, Darren England will officiate Liverpool’s game against Bournemouth on Saturday, with John Brooks overseeing VAR.
The appointment of Michael Oliver as the referee could raise concerns among Liverpool supporters. Oliver has recently faced criticism for issuing a controversial red card to Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly during their win over Wolves—many felt the decision was harsh, with Darren England, the VAR official, upholding the call. If a similar incident were to happen involving a Liverpool player, fans would likely be upset. However, threats made towards Oliver and his family after the Arsenal match were completely unacceptable and beyond the bounds of football rivalry.
Liverpool’s record under Oliver isn’t great, with only three wins from their last 12 matches officiated by him. A notable moment came last season when he failed to penalize Jeremy Doku for a high challenge on Alexis Mac Allister during a 1-1 draw with Manchester City—a decision that VAR also upheld, despite controversy.
Hopefully, officiating won’t overshadow the match when the derby takes place in two weeks. Liverpool fans will be hoping for a much-needed win at Goodison Park.
