Ex-Premier League referee has major concerns as Liverpool v Man United officials confirmed
Keith Hackett has admitted he has major concerns as Martin Atkinson is set to take charge when Liverpool host Man United tonight (19 April).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee slammed the PGMOL for relying on a 51-year-old who is in the “twilight of his career”.
The Premier League confirmed on Saturday (16 April) Atkinson will be the man in the middle at Anfield with Constantine Hatzidakis and Richard West running the line while Andy Madley is the fourth official.
Liverpool have never beaten United when Atkinson has been refereeing and the last time he was in charge of the fixture he sent Steven Gerrard off just 38 seconds after he came off the bench.
“Look, Liverpool against Man United is extra special,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It’s parallel to the Old Firm derby and there is that level of passion.
“This appointment reflects the limited number of referees that can handle this sort of game.
“There is no doubt that Atkinson is a very experienced official but he’s at the twilight of his career and, to be honest with you, he’s not had his best season.
“If I was appointing, it wouldn’t be him. I would have put Mike Dean on this game. Ok, he lives in north Wales and there are those connotations but that didn’t stop Anthony Taylor who lives in Manchester refereeing Man City against Liverpool last week.
“This highlights the fact the PGMOL are not accelerating the development of some of their referees.
“Jarred Gillett put in a really good performance in Newcastle’s win against Leicester but the questions come in, why are we not seeing more of this referee? That’s a fair comment.
“If he had more games and was towards the 15-20 appointments then there is no reason why he doesn’t have this game. He’s a former international referee so he’s shown his capabilities.”
In other news, there has been a ‘huge’ FSG update on Sadio Mane’s Liverpool future.