There has been a noticeable change in the way Premier League fixtures have been refereed over the last couple of weeks.
In general, the games have been allowed to flow far more, with fouls not necessarily given in incidents where there has been minimal contact. VAR has also played less of a role, with less contention around offside and penalty decisions.
Of course, not everyone has been happy with every aspect of this.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jurgen Klopp both had complaints about the treatment their respective teams received from officials, with both believing there was too much rough play in the game.
Solskjaer said that injuries were inevitable thanks to the change in refereeing, while Klopp felt that Burnley went way beyond the line in their physical approach at Anfield on Saturday.
However, Gary Neville is struggling to understand these comments.
Speaking ahead of the return of Monday Night Football on Sky Sports, the former United defender said that the opinions of the two managers go against what everyone has felt about the officials in the Premier League.
🗣"I don't think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jurgen Klopp have read the room at all." @GNev2 and @Carra23 debate if the Premier League has been too physical so far this season. pic.twitter.com/MjSXy2JLlZ
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 23, 2021
I don't think that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jurgen Klopp have read the room at all.
I think the first two weeks have been breathtaking in terms of refereeing. We have been heavily critical of VAR, the interventions and the fact they were overcomplicating it, not taking lessons from Europe. Mike Reilly has taken enormous criticism, as have referees in this country.
Football in this country has had the reputation for being the fastest, most electric, and most physical for the last 20 or 30 years. That's why it's watched the most around the world.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played in a team that was born on electricity, that cut and thrust of the game, and those sort of tackles. Jurgen Klopp is 'heavy metal' football, the idea of fast, entertaining, and thrilling football.
Nobody wants to see players getting topped, but we're not seeing that.
We have seen unbelievable refereeing. With the return of fans, the last couple of weeks have been the best refereeing I have seen in this country for a long time. It is taking the game back towards the fans, back towards the game everybody wants.
I don't think they have read the room particularly well with these comments.
This certainly seems to be a case of Solskjaer and Klopp attempting to put pressure on the officials.
However, it's fair to say that few supporters will have too many complaints about the way the game is being refereed currently.
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