Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has delivered his verdict on Bryan Mbeumo’s controversial opener in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The result ended the Red Devils’ nine-year wait for a win away to their fiercest rivals and marked their first away triumph in seven months under Ruben Amorim.
United struck early through Mbeumo in just the second minute, putting them in control against the defending Premier League champions. Despite Liverpool hitting the woodwork three times and equalising through Cody Gakpo in the 78th minute, Harry Maguire’s late header sealed a memorable win for the visitors.
Liverpool’s overall display left much to be desired, but controversy erupted over Michael Oliver’s decision not to stop play when Alexis Mac Allister suffered a head injury in the buildup to Mbeumo’s goal. The Argentine midfielder was later forced to wear a protective head cap, and Hackett has since weighed in on the debate that left the Reds chasing the game from the outset.
Keith Hackett’s View on the Decision
Hackett admitted Mbeumo’s goal may have benefited from good fortune, as replays showed Oliver had a clear view of Mac Allister’s injury but chose to let play continue. However, he backed the referee’s call as technically correct under the laws of the game.
> “Three players challenged for the ball fairly, and it bounced to set up a United attack that led to a well-taken goal,” Hackett told Football Insider.
“It seemed that referee Michael Oliver didn’t notice the head injury, so play was rightly allowed to continue. The goal was correctly awarded, and VAR couldn’t intervene as it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. Football is a contact sport.”
According to Premier League guidelines, referees are encouraged to stop play in cases of head injuries, but there’s no strict rule compelling them to do so. The league’s official statement notes:
> “Where a player has a suspected head injury and the referee stops the game, the official will signal for medical staff to enter the pitch. The player must then leave the field for assessment and remain off for at least 30 seconds after play resumes.”
Since Virgil van Dijk was the one who accidentally clashed heads with Mac Allister, VAR was not permitted to intervene, as no foul had been committed in the buildup.
For Liverpool, the defeat leaves them four points adrift of leaders Arsenal and marks their first four-game losing streak since November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers. Even more concerning, they now sit just two points ahead of Manchester United, a team still trying to recover from last season’s 15th-place finish.
Leave a Reply