Manchester United beat Liverpool in controversial circumstances on Sunday as Bryan Mbeumo scored the opening goal just moments after Alexis Mac Allister picked up a head injury.
Going into the game, most people thought that Arne Slot’s men would easily beat the Red Devils despite their recent run of form.
Although Mbeumo’s goal was well-taken, there was some controversy in the build-up as, when the ball was sent over the top of the Reds’ defence, Mac Allister was brought down.
Indeed, it was Virgil van Dijk who elbowed his teammate in the back of his head and caused Liverpool to be a man down in defence, but it was still a head injury.
This caused some Liverpool fans to question whether the goal should have even stood, with former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg now sharing his thoughts on the situation.
Mark Clattenburg thinks that Michael Oliver made the exact right call for Bryan Mbeumo’s goal against Liverpool
In their game against Man United, Liverpool were dominated in the first half, but for most of the second, they were the ones on top.
And, while Cody Gakpo did manage to net an equaliser after hitting the post three times, it still wasn’t enough as Harry Maguire scored the winner in the 84th minute.
However, right from the start of the game, the Red Devils were on the attack, and even though the validity of Mbeumo’s opening goal raised some questions, Clattenburg thinks that Michael Oliver made the right call.
“This one is not so simple because within one or two seconds, Manchester United are breaking and Liverpool are exposed at that point,” he said on the Beyond the Back Four Podcast.
“If he blows that whistle when Manchester United are on the edge of the penalty area, which was maybe two or three seconds after the initial collision, this would have been more controversial than not blowing that split second.
“Because when the goal has gone in, Michael Oliver has gone back to the player, and immediately he’s brought the trainer on.
“And then the club have to go through the protocol of concussion, making sure that the players’ welfare and safety is [okay].
“Michael Oliver has that split second to make that judgement call, and when you’ve got that judgement call and a team’s breaking, it’s very, very difficult to blow at that moment.
“And I think you’re hoping that the goal doesn’t score and it goes out for a goal kick and you can come back.
“It’s only controversial because a goal was scored, but it’s certainly not Michael Oliver’s fault and it’s certainly not Manchester United’s fault that them two players made that collision.
“So for me, because it’s no foul, Michael Oliver is blameless in this situation.”
Liverpool must buck their ideas up before they’re ruled out of the Premier League title race
Although panic doesn’t need to set in at Anfield just yet, if they don’t manage to win at least one or two of their next few games, some serious questions will need to be asked.
Of course, injuries have played a big part in the way that Liverpool’s season has panned out thus far, but the form of certain players, such as Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate, feels like a much bigger issue.
At the start of the season, Liverpool managed to get rather lucky with their performances, with the Merseyside outfit managing to net several late winners.
And, while most of their recent defeats have come due to goals scored late into the game, it’s clear that they’re half the team they were last season.
Whether that’s because the likes of Luis Diaz have chosen to leave or because their new signings haven’t clicked yet remains to be seen, but, unless they turn things around soon, they will be kissing their Premier League title hopes goodbye sooner than many think.
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