Liverpool face Manchester City at the Etihad on Thursday evening, a top of the table clash between two sides who are vying for Premier League glory.
Anthony Taylor will be in charge for this week’s Premier League main event! #MCILIV #mancity pic.twitter.com/2fXQ4IiEfC
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 1, 2019
The man chosen to officiate, Anthony Taylor, hails from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester. Suffice to say, Liverpool fans are none too pleased…
How often has Manc Anthony Taylor refereed one of our games against one of the Manchester clubs? It was twice out of 4 league games last season, 1 the season before, twice the season before that. How? #LFC
— TD ???????? (@DyerThomas) December 31, 2018
One Liverpool fan claimed Taylor refereed two of his club’s games against opposition from Manchester last season in the Premier League (something which is patently not true).
Google Maps was even wheeled out to show the proximity of Taylor’s birthplace to both Manchester football stadiums.
Anthony Taylor will referee Manchester City Vs Liverpool next Thursday.
Taylor is from Wythenshawe, Manchester. This map shows how close Man City’s ground is to where Taylor’s from, just 7 miles away. [From @googlemaps]
How he’s been given this game to referee is staggering. ? pic.twitter.com/IdbO35nX8i
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 31, 2018
Taylor’s birthplace will no doubt be a talking point on Twitter post-match, should there be any debatable high-profile decisions made.
Anthony Taylor has been appointed as the referee for our game against Liverpool on January 3rd. pic.twitter.com/ZYd57tcA07
— Superbia Proelia (@SuperbiaProeIia) December 31, 2018
The reality: No cause for concern Since 2011, Taylor has reffed just two Premier League games including both Liverpool and a club from Manchester. The fixtures have finished as follows: Man City 2-2 Liverpool and Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United. One Liverpool fan pointed out that Liverpool were yet to suffer a defeat under Taylor’s officiating against Manchester clubs.
we have never lost in the league against a Manchester club when Taylor was the ref (never won either mind)
— Moley (@Moley_LFC) December 31, 2018
There is no evidence to suggest Liverpool have been hard done by when Taylor has been in charge of the whistle. This season, for example, he watched over their 4-0 thrashing of West Ham.