The Reds are gearing up to face off against newly-promoted Ipswich Town in their Premier League opener at Portman Road this Saturday at 12:30 pm. Arne Slot will be making his debut as Liverpool’s manager in this competitive match, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) appointment has stirred some controversy, especially for former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League has announced the officiating team for the upcoming weekend’s games, with Tim Robinson set to be the referee for Liverpool’s match against Ipswich. Timothy Wood and Steve Meredith will serve as the assistant referees, while Keith Stroud will be the fourth official. However, it’s the selection of Stuart Atwell as the VAR official that has raised some eyebrows. Assisted by Harry Lennard at Stockley Park, Atwell’s previous VAR decisions have not been well-received by Klopp.
Atwell was in charge of VAR during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City at Anfield earlier this year. The controversial decision not to award Liverpool a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, despite a potential foul on Alexis Mac Allister, left Klopp frustrated. The German manager expressed his disbelief at the VAR ruling in a heated post-match press conference, questioning the logic behind the decision.
For Ipswich, this match will mark one of their first encounters with VAR, as the system is not yet implemented in the EFL, where the team has been competing for the past 22 years. Ipswich secured automatic promotion from the Championship last season by finishing second in the league, making them one of the few teams to achieve back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
The introduction of VAR has been a contentious issue in football, with many questioning its impact on the game and the consistency of its decisions. As Liverpool and Ipswich prepare to kick off their Premier League campaign, all eyes will be on how VAR influences the outcome of the match and whether it will spark further controversy in the world of football officiating.
