Exclusive: Michael Oliver backed on Liverpool v Everton call after Arsenal anger
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson can have no complaints about being booked by Michael Oliver during the Merseyside derby with Everton, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Scotsman left his manager, Arne Slot, with a decision to make over his involvement in the match.
Liverpool travelled to Goodison Park for the final derby to be played at the stadium on Wednesday night (12 February), in a game that was filled with plenty of incident.
One of those involved Robertson, and on this occasion it appears Oliver may have got his decision right.
Andy Robertson booked early in Merseyside Derby for innocuous moment
After Everton controversially took the lead against Liverpool with little more than ten minutes gone, but the Reds then equalised through Alexis Mac Allister just five minutes later.
Before the half-hour mark though, Robertson would put himself and his manager in a somewhat awkward position for the rest of the game.
After being penalised for a foul on Idrissa Gana Gueye by the touchline, the Scotsman then kicked the ball away in frustration, or to delay the restart.
That led to the Liverpool left-back being shown a yellow card by Oliver, leaving him living dangerously for the rest of the game.
Now, Hackett has given his verdict on the decision to show a yellow card to Robertson for that action, which may interest supporters of Arsenal.
Keith Hackett reacts to Andy Robertson booking in Everton vs Liverpool
Earlier in the season, Oliver showed a second yellow card to Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard in the first half of their clash with Man City.
That had proved costly with Pep Guardiola’s side going on to net a late equaliser against the ten men, leaving Arsenal fans furious with Oliver for sending off Trossard.
But after the same referee took the same action against Robertson in the clash between Everton and Liverpool, Hackett told Football Insider:
“If you kick the ball away you will receive a yellow card. The player now is walking a tightrope and his manager now needs to monitor his behaviour in order to determine if he is at risk of picking up a second yellow.”
Robertson would eventually play 69 minutes of that game before being substituted for Kostas Tsimikas.
Although both sides would keep 11 men on the pitch throughout the game, a last minute equaliser from James Tarkowski that ensured Everton snatched a 2-2 draw, both sides had players sent off post-match.
Abdoulaye Doucoure would see red for celebrating that late goal in front of the Liverpool fans, with Curtis Jones and Slot then also sent off for their reactions to that incident.