Liverpool players fuming as referee makes controversial decision to allow Man Utd goal

There was early drama in Liverpool's game with Manchester United after the Red Devils scored inside two minutes - while Alexis Mac Allister was down with a head injury.

Bryan Mbeumo made no mistake when he was slipped in neatly after Mac Allister was left on the turf after challenging for a header. But as Mbeumo and United celebrated, Liverpool's players fumed over the match officials' failure to stop the player after Mac Allister was left nursing a head injury.

FA rules state that play should be stopped if, in the referee's opinion, "a player is seriously injured or receives a head injury". Michael Oliver, however, did not stop play.

Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury, speaking in the aftermath of the goal, outlined that Oliver was unaware of the injury, saying: "What we are getting from the match centre is that the referee didn’t see the injury and was therefore obviously not able to stop the game."

Mac Allister received lengthy treatment after the goal and returned back to the field wearing protective headgear. Replays show that he had been accidentally caught in the back of the head by an elbow from Virgil van Dijk as the two challenged for the ball in the air with Mbeumo.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock gave his verdict on the controversy on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying: "There's a bit of contention about this goal among the Liverpool fans, they think that there's a head injury in midfield. Van Dijk and Mbeumo went up for the header, they clashed with Mac Allister and he is being treated by the physios.

"Mbeumo got up from it and made a lovely run in behind, Van Dijk switches off, Konate can't get there and he lifts it over the top of the keeper. Brilliant start for Manchester United ."

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