Man Utd vs Liverpool is sink or swim for referees… but Paul Tierney is up to the task in biggest test of his career
PAUL TIERNEY faces the biggest game of his refereeing career at Anfield.
Liverpool against Manchester United remains the greatest rivalry in the Premier League and Sunday is the ultimate test for an official.
The eyes of the world will be on Tierney and this is his chance to prove he can join the elite group of referees.
This is what we referees call an ‘A game’ and the PGMOL management clearly trust him.
In a powder-keg game like this you either sink or swim and it’s up to Tierney to show he can deliver a top level performance.
In recent weeks there has been a lot of talk regarding the number of spot-kicks United have received.
Jurgen Klopp has tried to play mind games on that issue but I don’t think that tactic will work with Tierney because he’s strong in his decision-making.
I like Tierney’s style. He’s mentally tough, not easily influenced and isn’t quick to flash a cheap yellow card – that is vital in a game of this magnitude.
An added incentive for Tierney, 40, is Uefa’s referee chiefs will be watching because this is one of the biggest games in club football.
And Tierney, currently in the third category of European refs, can put himself in the shop window, move up the list and enhance his future opportunities of officiating in the Champions League with an impressive display.
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There is no doubt Tierney will be nervous and he will feel the tension once the team sheets are handed in an hour before kick-off.
But I believe there will be less pressure on the Wigan whistler because he will not have to contend with a partisan Anfield crowd who usually challenge every decision you make.
We have already seen in the Merseyside and Manchester derbies this season that there is a lack of intensity due to no fans inside the stadiums.
There is no atmosphere for the players to feed off and that affects the tempo of the game.
It’s important the referee manages the players. I refereed this fixture three times and I remember in the game at Anfield in September 2012 Jonjo Shelvey and Patrice Evra both committed fouls early on.
Steven Gerrard ran over to me to apply pressure on issuing a caution for the Manchester United left-back but I waved him away and awarded a free-kick rather than reach for an early yellow card.
You have to be mentally strong and stamp your authority on the game – and that doesn’t necessarily mean with a card – otherwise you can lose control and it will be a long afternoon.
It’s important to get your first decision right to gain the trust and respect from the players and that will give you confidence for the rest of the game.
In that showdown in 2012, I sent off Shelvey for a wild lunge on Jonny Evans and I still maintain to this day it was a red card. Some will argue I should have cautioned both of them but I felt he endangered Evans’ safety.
I also awarded United a late penalty for Glen Johnson’s clear foul on Antonio Valencia. I’m sure VAR would have spent a long time viewing those incidents today!
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Because of the two decisions I received a lot of horrific abuse from a minority of Liverpool fans on social media afterwards.
The vile attacks weren’t just aimed at me, they also targeted my wife and daughter with references to my family’s battles with cancer and that crossed the line. I had to call in the police.
Liverpool sent me a letter to apologise and condemn the actions of their supporters and that brought closure on the matter.