Liverpool, October 19, 2025 – Anfield, usually a fortress that buries Manchester United’s dreams, turned into a stage of chaos on Sunday as referee Michael Oliver’s string of controversial calls handed the Red Devils a disputed 2–1 Premier League win. The fallout has been explosive, with Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher calling for an immediate FIFA investigation.
The 47-year-old Sky Sports pundit, working alongside Peter Drury and Gary Neville, didn’t hold back after the match:
“That was one of the worst-officiated games of the season. Too many mistakes went against Liverpool—it’s not incompetence; it’s something deeper. FIFA needs to investigate immediately. The footage clearly shows the referee’s decisions changed the result.”
Carragher’s outburst, reminiscent of the fire that defined his 2005 Champions League glory, fueled outrage online. Within hours, hashtags #OliverOut and #InvestigateAnfield exploded across social media, surpassing 400,000 posts.
Controversy from the Start
Under cloudy Merseyside skies, the match had been billed as Arne Slot’s shot at redemption against Ruben Amorim’s under-pressure United. Liverpool, desperate after three straight defeats—including the late collapse to Chelsea on October 4—started brightly. Mohamed Salah, ever-reliable at 33, curled in a 12th-minute opener from an Alexis Mac Allister assist, sending the Anfield crowd of 61,000 into rapture.
But just six minutes later, controversy struck. Bryan Mbeumo equalized after a pass from Matheus Cunha, moments after Mac Allister went down clutching his head following an accidental elbow from Virgil van Dijk. According to FA rules, play should stop for potential head injuries—but Oliver allowed the game to continue.
As Drury cried, “Mac Allister’s down holding his head—this should stop!”, Carragher fumed live:
“He’s on the floor! That’s disgraceful refereeing.”
The Premier League Match Centre later clarified on X:
“The referee did not see the injury and therefore could not stop play.”
That explanation only deepened the anger. Mac Allister later returned wearing protective headgear—a visible reminder of the oversight. On The Overlap podcast, Carragher called it “not just a mistake, but negligence,” adding, “FIFA needs to investigate—head injuries are serious. In a derby like this, it looks suspicious.”
Fans quickly drew parallels with Oliver’s past incidents—especially the 2023 Man City clash, where Jeremy Doku’s dangerous challenge on Mac Allister went unpunished. Calls for PGMOL transparency and Howard Webb’s accountability are now mounting.
More Refereeing Flashpoints
The second half only intensified the fury. In the 67th minute, Bruno Fernandes converted a VAR-awarded penalty for a supposed Cody Gakpo handball, which Slot angrily dismissed as “soft,” insisting the ball struck Gakpo’s hip. Despite protests, VAR official Jarred Gillett upheld Oliver’s call. Slot’s reaction earned him a red card.
United sealed the win in the 82nd minute, when Kobbie Mainoo finished off a counterattack started by Marcus Rashford, propelling United to eighth place on 13 points. Liverpool’s slide to fourth—nine points behind Manchester City—darkened the mood.
Adding insult, Liverpool were denied a penalty in the 54th minute after Amad Diallo blocked a Darwin Núñez cross with his arm. VAR ruled it a “natural position,” but Carragher disagreed:
“It’s obvious—the arm’s away from the body. Clear as day.”
The Fallout
Carragher, already known for past officiating rants—like his 2018 “over the line” tweet about West Ham—doubled down on TNT Sports:
“Just watch the replay—Mac Allister ignored, Gakpo penalized, Diallo’s handball dismissed. It’s not sour grapes; it’s systemic bias in big games. FIFA must step in—PGMOL’s too cozy.”
United supporters celebrated Amorim’s first derby win since taking over last November, mocking Liverpool fans with posts like “Karma for Istanbul.” Even neutrals weighed in: Gary Lineker tweeted, “Oliver’s had a shocker—questions for IFAB.”
Slot, visibly furious in his post-match conference, said:
“We played well enough to win, but the decisions killed us. This stinks.”
A Referee Under Scrutiny
Oliver, 40, already carried baggage into the fixture. His record in Liverpool games stands at 31 wins, 21 losses, 14 draws (a 46% win rate). United had reportedly voiced concern pre-match over his appointment—his third straight for this rivalry—citing past red cards and penalty controversies.
Liverpool’s own history with Oliver is also fraught: during the 2024–25 Merseyside derby, Slot clashed with him and was handed a two-game ban, later joking, “If we don’t win the league, thank you, Michael.”
Pundit Danny Murphy echoed Carragher’s frustration:
“That’s the worst refereeing since the Spurs offside fiasco. FIFA should get involved—Howard Webb’s slap on the wrist won’t cut it.”
The Aftermath
Outside Anfield, fans lit flares as #BoycottPGMOL trended. Carragher has since posted what he calls “strong proof” on Instagram—a timeline analysis viewed over 2 million times—and is urging FIFA to act. His demands include stricter concussion protocols and mandatory VAR reviews for derby matches.
For Liverpool, who now turn toward a Champions League clash with Milan, this defeat feels bigger than lost points—it’s a question of integrity.
“FIFA, investigate,” Carragher pleaded. “For the badge, for the game.”
In the world’s fiercest rivalry, where whispers of bias echo louder than cheers, Anfield’s roar now demands justice—or revolution.
