The Premier League have explained why referee Michael Olivier didn’t stop the play for a head injury before Manchester United’s opening goal against Liverpool.
United summer signing Bryan Mbeumo gave the visitors the lead inside two minutes at Anfield with a crisp strike past Giorgi Mamardashvili.
There have been complaints from the Liverpool team as Alexis Mac Allister went down with a head injury shortly before the goal.
Mac Allister challenged Mbeumo for a header and was inadvertently elbowed by his Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk.
The Argentina international immediately fell to the bottom clutching the back of his head but play continued and Mbeumo stunned Anfield with an early goal.
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During Manchester United’s celebrations, Mac Allister was receiving medical attention from two physios and continued with protection around his head.
VAR was unable to intervene given a foul was not committed but referees generally stop the play if a player suffers a head injury.
Nevertheless, the Premier League match centre indicated to Sky Sports that Oliver had ‘not seen the injury and due to this fact couldn’t stop the sport’.
That explanation surprised Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, who said: ‘He was on the ground holding his head… Arne Slot is just not joyful with what happened with Mac Allister.
‘I believe lots of players have taken advantage of the top injury rule. There was a situation within the Arsenal game yesterday where Arsenal were unlucky when the Fulham player went down.
‘I’m surprised Michael Oliver hasn’t pulled that back with a head injury.’
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock also believes it was a mistake for play to not be stopped.
‘There’s a little bit of contention about this goal among the many Liverpool fans, they think that there’s a head injury in midfield,’ he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘Van Dijk and Mbeumo went up for the header, they clashed with Mac Allister and he’s being treated by the physios.
‘Mbeumo got up from it and made a beautiful run in behind, Van Dijk switches off, Konate can’t get there and he lifts it excessive of the keeper. Good start for Manchester United.
‘Going back to the top injury that Mac Allister received, it was from an elbow by Van Dijk, his own player.
‘That doesn’t matter, play should still be stopped for a head injury. Manchester United won’t care.’
After Manchester United’s early opener, Old Trafford hero Gary Neville said: ‘What a primary minute it’s for United! The travelling fans are delirious.
‘Mbeumo and Cunha connect. Mbeumo runs around the back of Van Dijk. I don’t think Van Dijk sees him! Mbeumo is sort of a boxer, off he goes! A surprising start for United!
‘There’s lots of talk in regards to the United system for obvious reasons. But United caused Liverpool lots of problems last season because Liverpool didn’t know who was meant to be picking up who.’
Premier League champions Liverpool got here into this fixture on the back of three straight defeats, while Manchester United beat newly-promoted Sunderland before the international break.
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