Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Sat 9 May 2026 14:26, UK

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Craig Pawson was the man in the middle as emotions bubbled over between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield.

Both sets of supporters were left frustrated on Saturday, 9 May, with the Premier League giants forced to settle for a point each following an interesting battle on Merseyside.

Cole Palmer saw a goal disallowed early in the second half, with Marc Cucurella caught offside in the build-up, and it was likely one of the only decisions to provide the Reds with some relief.

Neither side could find the winner at Anfield, but had some refereeing decisions gone another way on the day, one team might have been walking away with all three points.

Craig Pawson adds to the frustration at Anfield

Late in the first half, Pawson was forced to blow up after blocking Curtis Jones’ run away from his own penalty area, and you could see just how frustrated the out-of-position midfielder was.

While it seems like an easy mistake for the referee to make, it was simply poor positioning from the official, who should have known better than to get in the way.

With Chelsea equalising moments before, emotions were running high, so it was a surprise not to see a yellow card come out for Liverpool’s No.17 for dissent.

Caicedo a lucky boy after lashing out

Jones was involved once again, and he was on the wrong end of an incident once again.

The Liverpool academy graduate got caught up in an altercation with Moises Caicedo, and the Blues’ midfielder was clearly frustrated, kicking out at his opponent next to the touchline.

Pawson clearly missed the incident, instead choosing to focus on a group of other players squaring up. Had the referee seen it, Caicedo might have been fortunate to even stay on the field.

Cole Palmer makes a mockery of the referee

Just moments after the clash between Jones and Caicedo, it was Palmer’s chance to wind up the Anfield crowd, as Dominik Szoboszlai prepared to whip in a free-kick.

As the referee turned his back, the England international edged closer to the ball, past the line that Pawson had drawn in foam, and after being instructed to move back, he got away with it a second time.