Liverpool Fans Fume After Premier League Confirms Manchester-Hailing Referee for Manchester Derby
The Premier League have confirmed the referee for the highly-anticipated derby between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Anthony Taylor set to take charge.
Taylor, a 45-year-old officiator from Wythenshawe, south Manchester, has been hailed as one of England’s elite refs, having officiated games in Europe’s top competitions, including Euro 2024. However, his appointment to the Manchester derby has sparked outrage amongst Liverpool fans, who claim there is a conflict of interest due to his birthplace and alleged support for hometown club Altrincham.
The Reds are looking to record their third consecutive win under boss Arne Slot, and the increased scrutiny on Taylor’s appointment seems to have added to the buzz around the match. Kick-off for the 16:00PM fixture has been pencilled in.
Taylor has previously officiated two Manchester United vs Liverpool matches during his career, with the most notable being the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in 2014. He has also taken charge of another 60 Liverpool matches, making it the most he has officiated that particular club.
Liverpool fans weren’t shy in expressing their discontent:
"Manchester-based referee for Manchester Utd vs Liverpool (again).
"Anthony Taylor has been given Man Utd v Liverpool. Oh boy"
"A Liverpool playing away in Manchester with a Greater Manchester based referee in charge. That’s a novelty!"
"Why a Manchester born is refereeing a Manchester-Liverpool game?."
"Anthony Taylor, ffs man."
The Premier League’s decision to appoint Taylor has inevitably raised questions about the impartiality of the referee. While Taylor maintains a reputation for being one of the premier officials in the country, his geographic connection to the clubs involved lends credence to the concerns amongst Liverpool fans.
In a bid to quell the controversy, referee Anthony Taylor will be joined on the pitch by Sam Barrott as the fourth official and John Brooks on VAR duty.
As usual, we’ll be keeping a watchful eye on the match and providing reactions and analysis throughout the day on our social media platforms. Follow us now for more updates and insights:
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