'Might as well not show up!' - Reds fans FUMING with Man United referee appointment

Some Liverpool fans have been left dismayed after Anthony Taylor was appointed as referee for the visit to Manchester United on Sunday. 

The Reds are facing a potentially crucial fixture at Old Trafford in their chase for the Premier League title, currently holding a two-point advantage over Arsenal, and a three-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the table. 

It promises to be a key week at the top of the table with Liverpool first taking on Sheffield United at Anfield, on Thursday night, and before that Arsenal are in action against Luton Town while City play Aston Villa. 

Should the Reds emerge unscathed from their encounter with the Blades then they will be seeking to press home their advantage at the top of the table this weekend. 

However, Liverpool fans were unhappy with the Premier League’s decision to name Manchester-born Taylor as the Matchweek 32 official at the home of Manchester United. 

Jurgen Klopp has been involved in a running feud with Taylor, stretching all the way back to January 2017 when the official gave Sunderland two penalties in a 2-2 draw. 

Recently, Klopp was raging with Taylor following Liverpool’s 3-1 loss against Arsenal at the Emirates, in which Ibrahima Konate was dismissed. 

“A lot of things were against us today, come on,” he told Sky Sports in his post-game interview. 

“This referee gave me a red card for a wrestling situation, Bernardo Silva, Mo Salah.

“Today, same situation with Diogo Jota. That I didn’t get a red card shows I’m matured, it’s just unbelievable! 

“Then, holding Havertz on Konate first, and then Ibou is there with an arm as well. Havertz goes down, yellow card. 

“Then he had to give him a second yellow. Gabriel is doing the same with Nunez, no yellow card!"

Klopp's sending off happened back in October 2022 during the closing stages of Liverpool’s 1-0 win against Manchester City. 

It was given to Klopp by Taylor, with the manager left incensed by the official's decision not to award a free kick for a perceived foul on Mohamed Salah. 

Klopp was fined £30,000 for the incident but did not have to serve a touchline ban.

Taylor was also in charge for Liverpool’s 5-0 win against United at Old Trafford back in October 2021, with it privately believed by some inside Liverpool that Cristiano Ronaldo should have been sent off along with Paul Pogba and that Taylor had taken it easy on the rudderless Red Devils. 

This will be the fifth time Taylor has taken charge of a Liverpool match this season and they have won only ONE of their previous four. 

They drew with Chelsea, 1-1, in the opening game of the season under Taylor’s whistle before another draw against Brighton, with the game finishing 2-2 at the Amex. 

Liverpool did however beat Newcastle 4-2 on New Year’s Day with Taylor in the middle. 

Then came the loss against Arsenal, which provoked a furious reaction from the German manager. 

"Piss take," was the response of one Liverpool fan to news of this weekend's appointment. "Might as well not show up," said another.