Liverpool fans discover referee for Wolves game and team he supports
Anthony Taylor will referee Liverpool's away trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, as the official returns to on-field duties after missing out last week.
Taylor is considered one of the most experienced Premier League referees, but faced backlash on social media for his role in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Sept. 14. Taylor handed out a record 14 yellow cards to players and two to coaches during that game, and was subject to online threats.
Last week Taylor acted as the fourth official at the American Express Community Stadium, where Brighton and Hove Albion was held to a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was controversially sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his challenge on Brighton forward Joao Pedro after Taylor negotiated with referee Rob Jones.
A Premier League panel later ruled that Gibbs-White should not have been sent off, leading to Taylor being involved in more controversy. Still, Taylor has been appointed as Saturday's referee even though Liverpool fans are against a Manchester-born referee officiating their games.
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Taylor will be supported by assistant referees Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, and Darren England will be the fourth official. The VAR team will be led by Michael Salisbury, with Dan Robathan acting as his assistant.
PGMOL rules state that referees cannot officiate a match involving a team they support, and with Taylor born in Greater Manchester, Liverpool fans are skeptical when he is appointed. Taylor has previously addressed his loyalties when officiating either Manchester United or Manchester City by stating that he supports National League team Altrincham.
Taylor has held a season ticket at Altrincham for many years, although his commitments as a referee often clash with their schedule. Altrincham club president Grahame Rowley even defended Taylor in 2023 after seeing the referee criticized by Premier League fans when officiating any game involving a Manchester club.
"Anthony has always been an Altrincham fan," Rowley told The Athletic in 2023. "Even now, he gets a season ticket every year, despite the fact he can't go to all the matches. People around here always ask if you're a red or a blue. He's actually a great advocate for non-League football and should be praised, not criticized."
Taylor officiated Liverpool's trip to Old Trafford earlier this season, where the Reds beat Manchester United 3-0. It initially silenced Taylor's haters, but former referees Mark Halsey and Keith Hackett don't understand why PGMOL continues to take the risk.
"The PGMOL are not helping themselves," Halsey told The Mirror. "If anything happens there will be questions about the appointment. Hackett added: "I do not understand why Anthony Taylor has been given the Liverpool game against Manchester United and I do not think he should be doing it."