Anthony Taylor has been chosen to serve as the refereeing official. Taylor, who is 45 years old, will be accompanied by assistant referees Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn. John Brooks will act as the video assistant referee, while Richard West will be his assistant under his supervision.
This hiring, on the other hand, has stirred attention and raised concerns due to the fact that Taylor is known to have a past with both Manchester United and Liverpool.
The fact that Taylor was born in Greater Manchester has prompted Liverpool supporters to raise concerns about the possibility of prejudice in his approach to the game.
On the other hand, it is important to point out that Taylor is a supporter of the National League team Altrincham, rather than representing either of the more notable Manchester clubs.
Despite this, Taylor’s track record as an official in games that involve both Liverpool and United has been a subject of controversy.
During the time when Taylor was officiating United’s matches, the team struggled to maintain its point total, suffering a loss of five points across two games.
On the other hand, Liverpool has also experienced difficulties in games that Taylor has officiated this season. Out of the four matches that he has officiated, Liverpool has only earned one victory.
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Jurgen Klopp was dissatisfied with Taylor’s decision to leave Ibrahima Konate out of the game against Arsenal, which Liverpool ultimately lost 3-1.
Taylor has previously refereed two matches between Manchester United and Liverpool in the top division. In 2016, he presided over a match that ended in a goalless draw at Anfield.
In 2021, Liverpool won 5-0 at Old Trafford, and former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was shown a red card during the match from Liverpool.
Taylor’s associations and history with both clubs have been under examination, despite the fact that he has been a prominent referee in the Premier League, having officiated more than 350 games since his debut in February of 2010.
His loyalty rests with Altrincham, where he retains a season ticket despite the fact that he only attends a small number of games due to officiating duties.
This is despite any perceived biases that may exist. According to the rules of the PGMOL, referees are not allowed to officiate games that involve teams that they support or games that could potentially affect the fortunes of their side.
