Liverpool supporters are unlikely to be thrilled by the referee assigned to next weekend’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth.
Andoni Iraola’s side return to the Vitality Stadium after a disappointing home draw with Fulham, while Marco Rose is still searching for his first top-flight win with the Cherries despite leading in each of their last four matches. The Reds will have an extra 48 hours to prepare, with Bournemouth in Europa League action away to Real Sociedad on Thursday night.
Officials confirmed
The Premier League has named Michael Oliver as the referee for Bournemouth v Liverpool. Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring will be his assistants, Simon Hooper the fourth official, and Craig Pawson on VAR, assisted by Lee Betts.
A difficult recent history
Oliver’s name will stir uncomfortable memories for many Liverpool fans. He took charge of the fiery Goodison Park derby in February 2025, a match in which both Everton goals were heavily disputed and Arne Slot and Sipke Hulshoff were sent off after full-time protests.
He was also the VAR official for Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last season, when Virgil van Dijk’s equaliser was incorrectly disallowed for an alleged offside involving Andy Robertson.
Liverpool’s recent record under Oliver is poor: just one win in their last seven matches with him in the middle (a 1-0 victory over Burnley a year ago). Since then he has refereed defeats to both Manchester clubs — United at Anfield last October and City in the FA Cup in April.
Oliver was also in the middle for last Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford, where Erling Haaland’s winner was awarded after VAR overturned an on-field offside decision. Pro Ref later acknowledged the call was wrong, though the error lay with the video officials rather than the referee on the pitch. Those VAR officials have not been assigned any Premier League games next weekend.
Liverpool will simply hope Oliver is not the main talking point when the final whistle blows at the Vitality Stadium in six days’ time.
