The Premier League has confirmed the referees for the next day this weekend, with a referee involved in controversy in charge of Anfield.
“It is an outrageous decision. Absolutely rotten decision by one of the supposedly elite referees.”
Those were the words of David Moyes following referee Andy Madley’s decision – on a VAR recommendation – to disallow a goal by West Ham’s Maxwel Cornet to make it 2-2 at Chelsea, for a perceived foul on Edouard Mendy.
The decision was notable, with Jarrod Bowen barely hitting Mendy, whom Moyes accused of “faking an injury,” and amplified the weekend’s controversy.
“How can you walk up to the monitor and call that a foul?” Declan Rice added in his post-match interview. “It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Neither Moyes nor Rice were punished for their comments, which served as an admission that Madley and VAR official Jarred Gillett were wrong.
But while Lee Mason, who was criticized for his performance in Newcastle’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, was removed from VAR duties for this weekend’s matches, both Madley and Gillett were designated for the games.
The Premier League has confirmed that Madley will be the referee for Liverpool vs. Wolves at Anfield on Saturday, despite a clear lack of him just a week earlier.
It is not the first Liverpool match that Madley has been in charge of this season, as the 39-year-old also refereed the 2-2 draw at Fulham.
Overall, he has refereed Liverpool six times, resulting in five wins and one draw for Jurgen Klopp’s side, including wins over Palace, Leicester and Cardiff last season.
It should be noted that there were also VAR issues during the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, with Virgil van Dijk possibly deserving of a red card for a challenge on Amadou Onana.
That afternoon’s VAR was Darren England, who has been appointed fourth official for Man City vs. Tottenham on Saturday night.
