Over the last few seasons, Michael Oliver has established himself as one of the Premier League’s go-to referees for the big games – he’ll officiate the headline clash this weekend, Liverpool vs Chelsea – but the 32-year-old’s strict style certainly doesn’t suit all of the division’s top teams. Worryingly for Saturday’s visitors to Anfield, they provide the perfect example.
Indeed, based on per-match metrics, Oliver ranks third throughout the Premier League’s 18 referees for yellow cards this season, alongside fifth for penalties and 9th for fouls. In short, Oliver isn’t one for letting the game flow for the sheer sake of it, and he’s proactive as the laws will allow when it comes to determining infringement.
The statistics suggest that’s much worse news for the Premier League champions than their opponents this weekend. Chelsea have made more tackles, committed more fouls, picked up more yellow cards and incurred more red cards than Liverpool this season and that’s hardly surprising considering their robust and organised style of defending.
Oliver, however, may well find issue with that at Anfield. In fact, there’s already evidence this season to suggest he will; one of the two red cards Oliver’s handed out in 2017/18 was in the only Chelsea game he’s taken charge of, sending David Luiz for an early shower against Arsenal.
That’s an even more worrying prospect for the Blues when considering Philippe Coutinho’s renowned deadliness from set pieces. If Chelsea give away too many free kicks in dangerous areas, something Oliver’s presence makes all the more likely, the Brazilian will eventually punish them for it.
If there’s one positive for Chelsea to take from Saturday’s referee appointment, it’s that 40% of the matches Oliver have officiated this season have ended in away wins – a surprisingly high total, even for this part of the campaign. On top of that, Oliver is yet to actually referee a Liverpool game this season, so who knows what aspects of their game he may feel obliged to penalise as well.
On the surface though, the statistics suggest Chelsea will need to keep their discipline in check, or Oliver’s strict style could become the deciding factor at Anfield.
[ad_pod ]