Manchester United are at Anfield this weekend to take on Liverpool, and with it likely being a game decided by tight margins, every little thing counts.
While the idea of heading to Anfield is one which Manchester United fans may find daunting, considering it was only three years ago that Liverpool thrashed Erik ten Hag 7-0.
However, in reality, this season has seen Liverpool undergoing their own struggles, being nowhere near as good as the early form showcased.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
This has come to roost over the past few weeks, with Liverpool losing three on the bounce heading into this clash, while United have won two from three.
This season, United have plenty to be positive about, but beating Liverpool would ignite something never before achieved under Ruben Amorim. Now the referee to oversee this clash has been announced, and it won’t be popular at Old Trafford.
Diogo Dalot with hands on hips after being sent off for Manchester United.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Manchester United vs Liverpool referee and match officials confirmed
In the big games, often there is lots of attention around who the match officials will be, given how many have made troubling refereeing decisions at the expense of United.
This coming weekend, against Liverpool, there will be some unhappy players in the United camp as the Premier League confirmed that the referee is Michael Oliver, who has had several high-profile moments taking charge of United games.
More United News
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referee: Stuart Burt
Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
Fourth Official: Craig Pawson
Video Assistant Referee: Darren England
Additional Video Assistant Referee: James Bell
This appointment won’t please United captain Bruno Fernandes. This is because Fernandes and Oliver have a long history with plenty of clashes between the two, which won’t make Sunday a happy outing.
There is also one other player who won’t be excited to see Oliver.
Michael Oliver was responsible for Diogo Dalot sending off in 2023
One of the biggest refereeing blunders for United in recent memory was back in December 2023, when Diogo Dalot saw red against Liverpool.
The decision was made by Oliver to show Dalot a second yellow card for venting his frustration in the form of waving his arm around, a considerable distance from the referee.
The frustration came as Dalot thought he had just won his team a late throw-in, which replays showed he had, but Oliver sent him off anyway.
United fans were furious with the decision, as it really made no sense considering how often players get away with more obvious and direct shows of frustration.
United will be hoping to avoid any situations like this on Sunday.