Keith Hackett, a former Premier League referee and former PGMOL chief, feels that Michael Oliver did his best to maintain control of a “testing” Merseyside derby, but he ultimately made a crucial mistake by giving Everton the free-kick that resulted in their opening goal. The Toffees took the lead within 11 minutes, but Liverpool responded through Alexis Mac Allister, who headed in a tantalizing cross from Mohamed Salah, before the Egyptian himself struck at the back post to put the Reds in control of a match they had been struggling to impose themselves on for much of the evening. Three minutes past the allotted stoppage time had already been played, though, and James Tarkowski unleashed a thunderous volley to snatch a 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Tensions erupted during the post-match scenes, and four players were sent off: Curtis Jones, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Arne Slot, and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff. Oliver’s officiating has regrettably been the subject of most of the post-event conversation, and now a former PGMOL chief has offered commentary on a number of controversial choices.
A former PGMOL chief renders a judgment regarding the officiating of the Merseyside Derby.
Keith Hackett’s thoughts on Michael Oliver’s performance were conflicted.
The derby on Wednesday night will be remembered for years to come, but it’s debatable if for the right reasons. Oliver made a number of dubious choices that cast doubt on his ability to officiate at the highest level, including his unwillingness to give Conor Bradley a second yellow card, his refusal to give Everton a penalty for Ibrahima Konate’s handball, and his readiness to blow for 20 fouls in favor of the home team.
Beyond that, he seemed to send Arne Slot out with little more than a stiff handshake, and there was some debate about the validity of both of Everton’s goals. Hackett, who has officiated Merseyside derbies before, said Oliver did a good job of managing the game in spite of these talking points. In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, he said:
“I have enjoyed officiating Merseyside derby games; the intensity and temperature change, and you have to keep your composure.” Michael Oliver put a lot of effort into keeping things under control, but it’s always a trying game.
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Everton’s Opener ‘Should Not Have Stood’
Hackett was more critical of the first big call made by Oliver
David Moyes’ return to Goodison Park twelve years later, where he gave one of his career’s pivotal speeches in the closing moments of a stadium that the blue half of Merseyside holds in such high regard, has a certain poetic symmetry. The outcome could still be crucial, both in helping Everton guarantee their place in the Premier League before they relocate to Bramley Moore and in ending their loud neighbors’ hopes of winning the league for the twentieth time.
However, Hackett claims that if Oliver hadn’t made the mistake of giving Everton a free kick in the buildup to Beto’s opening, the unrestrained celebrations at the Gwladys Street End might never have occurred. Halfway inside the Liverpool half, Iliman Ndiaye was challenged by Konate and tumbled down theatrically, earning that set-piece. However, replays revealed that the center-back made little to no touch with the Everton attacker. According to Football Insider, Hackett stated:
Michael Oliver made the bad choice to give Everton a free kick, which gave them the first goal, and Liverpool was the victim. No foul was committed. Oliver made a mistake.
Reminder that this was the "foul" Michael Oliver gave right before Everton scored the first goal…pic.twitter.com/SgwZmM256n
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) February 12, 2025
After the midweek drama, both sides of Stanley Park may feel resentful, but from Liverpool’s point of view, the emphasis now needs to be on regaining composure and maintaining perspective. They have just lost one league game this season and are still leading the Premier League by seven points. Even though Everton may have halted their momentum, the Reds still have a lead over Arsenal in the title battle and need to let their performances speak for themselves.
Next up, under John Heitinga’s direction, they take on Wolves at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Season-defining trips to Manchester City and Aston Villa follow, and a home match against Newcastle United rounds off a demanding February.
