Michael Oliver has been in the spotlight over the past weekend.
The English referee is regarded as one of the best officials in the country and is often seen at the centre of the Premier League’s biggest games.
The 39-year-old was the man in the middle for Wolves vs Arsenal on Saturday and a decision Oliver made in the contest had the whole football world talking.
Oliver sent off Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first half after the defender stopped Matt Doherty from going on a counter-attack by tripping the Ireland star up. Many expected the Gunners youngster to be shown a yellow, and when the red card came out, controversy ensued.
According to The Daily Mail, the Premier League official was sent death threats over the weekend but despite this, Oliver is not letting these events affect his job.
The English official has now been put in charge of Liverpool’s clash with Everton, four years on from making a major error in the same fixture.
Michael Oliver to referee the final Everton vs Liverpool clash at Goodison Park
Everton host Liverpool on 12 February after weather conditions postponed the original date for the fixture at the start of December.
The match between the two Liverpool-based clubs is set to be the final Merseyside Derby contested at Goodison Park as the Toffees are set to move into their new stadium ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Michael Oliver has been put in charge of the game, reports ESPN’s Dale Johnson, as the Premier League want one of their best officials overseeing a match that could have big implications for the title race for the Reds.
This is not the first Merseyside Derby Oliver will take charge of with the 2020 edition of this fixture proving very controversial for the referee, as one of his decisions would have a major impact on Liverpool’s season.
Michael Oliver admitted to major Merseyside Derby error in 2020
Heading into the 2020/21 campaign, Liverpool hoped to retain their Premier League title after blowing the competition away to win the English top flight for the first time in 30 years the campaign before.
However, that would be impacted massively in October 2020 as a 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park would not only see the Reds drop points but lose Virgil van Dijk for the rest of the season to an ACL injury.
Oliver failed to send off Jordan Pickford after the Everton goalkeeper flew out and caught the Dutch defender high on the leg.
In the aftermath, Oliver admitted he should have sent Pickford off, but the damage was already done as Liverpool’s seasons as compromised.
Liverpool fans were not happy with Oliver after this admission and they are unlikely to forget heading into the upcoming tie in February.
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