Overview

• The Premier League confirmed Michael Oliver will take charge at Anfield on Sunday, with assistants Stuart Burt and Tim Wood, Craig Pawson as fourth official, and Darren England and James Bell on VAR duty.
• Manchester United supporters voiced critical reactions on social media after the announcement, referencing previous contentious calls.
• Oliver has overseen 66 Liverpool matches with 105 yellow cards and two dismissals, and 47 Manchester United matches with 98 yellows and five caution-to-red dismissals, while awarding 18 penalties in Liverpool games and eight in United games with no straight reds for either club.
• A key flashpoint cited is Diogo Dalot receiving two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent in the December 2023 meeting between the sides.
• Oliver was the VAR who recommended a review that led to a penalty in United’s October 2024 defeat to West Ham, which proved to be Erik ten Hag’s final game, and a January 2025 report by Samuel Luckhurst said club figures had raised concerns about his handling of Bruno Fernandes.