Official involved in hugely controversial call at Anfield this season named as referee for Liverpool v Man Utd

Andy Madley was named the referee for Liverpool’s Premier League game against Manchester United, despite having been involved in a controversial call at Anfield earlier this season.

Liverpool host bitter rivals United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, hoping to close the gap on their top-four rivals.

The teams have swapped roles this term, with United in contention for the league title and Liverpool struggling to qualify for the Champions League.

However, Klopp’s side did record their fourth successive clean sheet in the top flight on Wednesday in a 2-0 victory over Wolves, suggesting they are on the cusp of an upturn in form.

Yet they will take on a United side emboldened after winning their first trophy in six years.

Erik ten Hag’s men beat Newcastle United 2-0 to win the Carabao Cup last Sunday, ending the club’s longest trophy drought in 40 years.

Madley to referee Liverpool vs United

Madley has been named as the referee for Liverpool’s game against Manchester United.

It will be his fourth Liverpool match this term, while he has also resided over one United match.

Indeed, Madley refereed the Merseyside club’s third-round FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which ended 2-2.

The game was marked by late VAR controversy, however, after Wolves found the net in the 82nd minute.

Toti Gomes flicked the ball past Alisson Becker from close range, sparking jubilant scenes in the away end, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.

The decision of the on-field referee to disallow Toti’s goal was upheld after a length VAR check, despite there having been no camera angle available to confirm the decision.

Indeed, the officials deemed Wolves’ Matheus Nunes to have been offside in the build-up though there was not a camera angle sufficient enough to confirm the decision.

The chain of events meant VAR was not in a position to overrule the decision of the on-field assistant, which led to huge protests from the visiting players and bench.

Topics: Football, Liverpool, Manchester United, VAR, Premier League, FA Cup

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.