Premier League leaders Liverpool are set to take on in-form Bournemouth on Saturday – and they will be reunited with a referee for the first time in 16 months.
Arne Slot’s side are currently top of the Premier League and 36-team Champions League group phase after a near-perfect start to the season.
On Saturday they will travel to the south coast where they will face Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
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The Cherries are fresh from the 5-0 victory over European contenders Nottingham Forest last weekend, and have ambitions of qualifying for European competition this season – currently sitting seventh in the division.
Liverpool fans will be keeping a keen eye on Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who has been linked with a potential move to the Reds after impressing with seven goals and three assists this term.
And fans have already had their say on another decision ahead of the game. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has confirmed that Darren England will take charge of Bournemouth vs Liverpool.
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This will be the first time he has officiated a Liverpool game since making a calamitous error during the fixture between Spurs and Liverpool on September 30, 2023.
On that occasion, England – who was the VAR - made a huge error after Mohamed Salah’s ball found Luis Diaz who finished low to Guglielmo Vicario’s right, before he wheeled away in celebration only to see the offside flag raised.
A VAR check ensued, and the goal was ruled out. On second glance, TV viewers noticed that Diaz was, in fact, onside. Questions were quickly asked and during the fallout of the game, it emerged that the VAR room in Stockley Park knew he was onside.
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The PGMOL released a statement shortly after full-time.
"PGMOL acknowledges a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool," a statement read. "The goal by Luiz Díaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials.
"This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention.
"However, the VAR failed to intervene. PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error."
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Almost 16 months later, Liverpool will be officiated by England.
Fans were quick to give their thoughts on social media.
One said: "Arsenal pressure got Darren England back refereeing a Liverpool game ffs."
Another added: "How is Darren England allowed to REFEREE one of our games."
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A third commented: "Can’t wait for the outrageous decision this weekend."
Topics: Liverpool, Bournemouth, Premier League, VAR, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Champions League
Luke Davies