The official overseeing Manchester City’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Tottenham is set to manage Liverpool’s upcoming match against Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Simon Hooper found himself in the middle of a heated clash at Etihad Stadium, making a controversial decision to allow advantage for a foul on Erling Haaland before pulling back play when Jack Grealish was through on goal. Man City, notably Haaland, expressed frustration, with the Norwegian taking to social media to amplify his discontent with a simple yet strong message: “Wtf.”
Pep Guardiola directed his criticism towards fourth official Anthony Taylor after the game, sarcastically referring to him as “the master of commander” in an interview with Sky Sports.
This outcome favored Liverpool, propelling them past Man City into second place in the Premier League, just two points behind leaders Arsenal.
Hooper’s last Liverpool match was the contentious 2-1 defeat against Tottenham, marked by VAR communication errors that denied Luis Diaz a valid goal. Although the main fault lay with VAR Darren England, Hooper’s overall decisions throughout the game left Liverpool fans bewildered.
All eyes will be on Hooper at Bramhall Lane as Liverpool seeks to build on their stunning 4-3 comeback win against Fulham by securing three more crucial points. This spotlight comes amidst Manchester City’s frustration over dropping points against Tottenham, extending their winless league run to three games for the first time since 2017.
With Liverpool now ahead by a point in the standings, they appear poised to mount a significant title challenge as the season progresses toward May.