‘Oliver Made a Mistake’ – Former PGMOL Chief Slams Referee’s “Poor Decision” in Heated Liverpool vs Manchester United Clash
Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee has criticized Michael Oliver for a major officiating error during the fiery Liverpool vs Manchester United match at Anfield, describing one key moment as a “poor decision.”
“Liverpool suffered from a poor decision by Michael Oliver for not awarding a penalty for a clear handball in the area,” the former official stated. “Oliver made an error.”
The referee’s performance came under heavy scrutiny after several controversial calls throughout the encounter — with multiple incidents leaving both sets of fans frustrated.
Early Controversy at Anfield
The first flashpoint occurred just 18 minutes into the game, marking the second of several contentious moments involving Oliver.
Liverpool fell behind early despite strong protests over the legitimacy of Manchester United’s opening goal.
According to the Premier League Match Centre, the goal — scored by Bryan Mbeumo — was correctly allowed to stand, even though the incident sparked anger among Liverpool players and supporters.
Why the Goal Stood
United took the lead when Mbeumo found the net past Giorgi Mamardashvili, but controversy erupted after Alexis Mac Allister appeared to suffer a head injury moments before the goal.
The Argentine was accidentally struck by teammate Virgil van Dijk and went to ground clutching his head. Typically, Premier League referees stop play for head injuries — but Oliver waved play on, allowing United to capitalize.
Commentator Peter Drury explained on Sky Sports that the referee simply “did not notice Mac Allister on the ground.”
Co-commentator Jamie Carragher, however, was less forgiving, saying:
“He was on the floor holding his head!”
Both Van Dijk and Liverpool manager Arne Slot protested immediately, with Carragher adding:
“I’ve been frustrated in the past when players have taken advantage of that rule, but I’m shocked Oliver didn’t stop play here. Just yesterday, in the Arsenal game, the referee stopped it for something similar.”
Mixed Reactions from Pundits
While Carragher focused on the referee’s handling of the situation, Gary Neville placed part of the blame on Van Dijk, criticizing his lapse in concentration.
“Mac Allister goes down, but what surprises me is Van Dijk. Mbeumo runs right past him, and he doesn’t react. That’s the real surprise,” Neville said. “Mbeumo gets up, keeps going, and finishes well — it’s a remarkable start for Manchester United.”
The Handball That Wasn’t
Shortly after the controversial goal, Liverpool believed they should have been awarded a penalty when Amad Diallo appeared to handle the ball inside the box.
However, Oliver waved play on, and VAR later upheld his decision.
A Premier League Match Centre statement clarified the ruling:
“The referee’s decision of no penalty was reviewed and upheld by VAR, as Amad’s arm was determined to be in a natural and justifiable position.”
The decision reignited frustration among Liverpool supporters, who felt key moments went against them.
Liverpool’s Growing Frustration
The Anfield defeat extended Liverpool’s poor run of form, coming after three consecutive losses across both the Premier League and Champions League.
With Arsenal having secured a win over Fulham earlier in the weekend, the result left the Reds at risk of falling four points behind the league leaders — adding further pressure on Arne Slot and his squad.
Conclusion
Michael Oliver’s handling of the high-stakes Liverpool–Manchester United clash has once again sparked debate about officiating standards in the Premier League.
Between the decision not to stop play for Mac Allister’s injury and the controversial handball non-call, critics — including former referees — agree on one thing:
“Oliver made a mistake.”
