Some Liverpool fans have been frantically googling 'Who is the referee for Liverpool v Man Utd' as the build-up to the Liverpool/Manchester United clash at Anfield on Monday has already kicked off. As Sky splash us in the face with their RED MONDAY commercial drive, some Liverpool fans have been complaining online about the appointment of Anthony Taylor to referee the game.
Taylor lives and works in the Greater Manchester area, although he reportedly supports non-league Altrincham. Liverpool fans accuse Taylor of awarding a number of high-profile decisions against their side in the past: most notably during the title run-in in 2014, in which he allowed a West Ham goal stand despite an Andy Carroll foul on Simon Mignolet; an error exacerbated as the incident was replayed on the big screen over Taylor as he stood staunchly by his decision.
While there was the usual social media furore (some fans have accused Taylor's wife of being a United fan, as if that matters in any way) the appointment gained further traction when the former head of referees, Keith Hackett, said that the appointing of Taylor was an "avoidable risk":
No-one is questioning Anthony’s integrity or his ability to handle this game. You could argue it’s testimony to his unflappable character and capacity to focus that he’s been appointed to it.
Taylor is also in form and establishing himself firmly as one of the select group’s best operators.
But what if something goes wrong for him on the day – as it can for even the finest referees? That’s when the focus on him would be intolerable, especially if a controversial incident has gone in favour of Liverpool and it influences the result.
If that happens then it would be those who appointed him who must take the blame for taking such an avoidable risk – on a weekend when Mark Clattenburg, the 2016 Champions League referee, is holding up a board as fourth official in another match.
It's all rather odd. Liverpool fans have further pointed out the fact that Taylor lives six miles from Old Trafford, presumably avoiding the fact that, were they to relocate to within six miles of Old Trafford as supporters of another team, it would likely harden them in a stance against United, if anything.
Also, Taylor has overseen Liverpool victories more often than any other side (12) and has awarded them more penalties than he's given any other club (six).
Fleet Street's chief hand wringer Henry Winter was asked about it on BBC 5 Live this evening, and summed the absurdity up perfectly, by saying that, if we are going to begin selecting referees based on twitter, we'd be on a "highway to hell":
Watch below:
'If we're going to decide referees from votes on Twitter, we're on a highway to hell'@HenryWinter on #LFC v #MUFC https://t.co/JaomWt2lIB
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) October 12, 2016
Good response. Taylor is a perfectly decent referee, and he'll face quite a cauldron at Anfield on Monday night, as the game kicks off at 8pm.
