Man City vs Liverpool referee and VAR decision has simple solution amid fans' conspiracy

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When Anthony Taylor was announced as the referee for today’s match at the Etihad, there was mild uproar from Liverpool fans on social media.

Taylor is from Wythenshawe, Manchester, and the VAR for the game is Paul Tierney from Salford, Manchester. On the face of it, those slightly troubled Liverpool supporters might have a point. But the irony is that some City fans were equally annoyed. There has long been a conspiracy theory suggesting Taylor is a Manchester United follower.

But we have all heard those type of conspiracy theories - they have existed since the beginning of football. Taylor is a competent, professional referee and it should be taken as a given that he - and every other referee - is 100 per cent impartial. But, it is still not a great look.

And, of course, it is eminently avoidable. Taylor has been chosen for this particular game because he is one of the more experienced and highly-rated referees. But as big a game as this is, why does it get preferential treatment?

In other words, why are referees chosen for particular matches? Surely, if you are a Premier League referee, you are deemed and competent as the next Premier League referee? So why pick and choose? Have a pool of refs, draw them out of a hat each week to see what game they get. Easily done.

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