Michael Oliver handed out four red cards during the Merseyside derby on Wednesday and his next job will be at Villa Park
The man in the middle of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby furore, referee Michael Oliver, has been handed VAR duties at Aston Villa this weekend.
Unai Emery’s men host struggling Ipswich Town at 3pm on Saturday looking for three points to enhance their own European qualification claims.
Ipswich, meanwhile, who are likely to have Villa old boy Jaden Philogene in their ranks, are desperate for points to give them a fighting chance of avoiding relegation straight back to the Championship.
And Northumberland official Oliver has become something of an expert on fighting after issuing four red cards in the aftermath of trouble following the Everton v Liverpool game at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Everton snatched an injury-time equaliser through James Tarkowski in the final derby match at Goodison, which ended 2-2. But things took an incendiary turn inside the old stadium as Abdoulaye Doucoure’s wild celebrations in front of away fans sparked a furious reaction.
Reds midfielder Curtis Jones confronted Doucoure and the subsequent altercation saw both men dismissed for second bookings.
With supporters breaking on to the pitch, stewards and police then became involved before Liverpool boss Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also sent off by referee Oliver.
That decision means Slot is likely to miss Liverpool’s trip to Villa next Wednesday if a two-match ban for the Reds boss is confirmed. But a more immediate link is the fact Oliver will be expected to rule on VAR calls at Villa Park on Saturday.
The Premier League have listed Rob Jones as referee for the game, with Stuart Burt and Neil Davies his assistants. The fourth official will be Darren Bond, while Oliver’s assistant VAR is due to be Eddie Smart.
It was a lengthy VAR call at Goodison on Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser that was the catalyst for the mayhem to follow, with Chris Kavanagh the official who ultimately advised Oliver that the goal should stand. His assistant VAR on the night was also Eddie Smart.
