Michael Oliver comes underfire after controversial decision in Liverpool’s defeat

Last Updated on 10 November 2025

Manchester City delivered the goods in their 3-0 win over Liverpool in Pep Guardiola’s 1000th game as a manager.

Erling Haaland missed a penalty early on but then opened the scoring with a fine header. Right before half-time, Manchester City doubled their lead after Nico Gonzalez scored off a deflection.

And, a third was added by Jeremy Doku, who was unstoppable, slamming it top bins from outside the box.

It was a complete performance from the home side as they thrashed the Premier League champions but it easily could have been very different…

Michael Oliver denies Liverpool a controversial equalizer

10 minutes after Haaland headed Manchester City into the lead, Liverpool equalized through Virgil van Dijk from a corner.

It was the perfect delivery from Mohamed Salah and the Reds thought they had their first goal from a set piece in the current campaign.

However, it was swiftly disallowed as Andrew Robertson was judged to be in an offside position, hindering Gianluigi Donnarumma’s view.

Michael Oliver on VAR upheld the decision from the on-field referee and ruled out the goal. It was a pivotal moment in the game as Manchester City soon doubled their lead through Nico Gonzalez.

However, Arne Slot and most of Liverpool’s fans and players were fuming with the call.

“I think it’s obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion. Because he [Robertson] didn’t interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do.”

Slot added that a similar goal was actually awarded to Manchester City against Wolves by Michael Oliver.

“Immediately after the game someone showed me the goal that the same referee allowed City against Wolves last season [John Stones’ last minute winner]. So it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it’s offside. So there was clearly communication.”

For what it’s worth, Slot definitely has a point because Bernardo Silva can be seen hindering the ‘keeper’s view a lot more than Robertson did for van Dijk’s goal.

Michael Oliver and his controversial history featuring Liverpool

In February 2025, following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw, Arne Slot and Michael Oliver exchanged a few words. Slot was banned for two games for his comments after the referee allowed play to continue way after the added time was up.

In fact, Michael Oliver also refereed Liverpool-Manchester City at Anfield, during Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge. That game was also full of controversy as Jeremy Doku’s high boot on Alexis Mac Allister in the dying minutes of the game was not judged to be a penalty.

But if you go back a couple of seasons, as per Sky, Michael Oliver admitted that he made a mistake not sending off Jordan Pickford for his challenge on Virgil van Dijk during the 2020-21 season.

No wonder Slot and his players were fuming with the decision but they were also let down by their performances.

Pressure mounts on the Dutchman as Liverpool suffer their fourth consecutive away defeat of the 2025/26 campaign.