United’s summer recruit Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring within two minutes at Anfield, delivering a crisp finish past Giorgi Mamardashvili. ..Continue Reading
Liverpool players voiced concerns as Alexis Mac Allister went down with a head injury moments before the goal.
Mac Allister contested a header with Mbeumo and was accidentally struck by teammate Virgil van Dijk’s elbow.
The Argentine midfielder immediately dropped to the turf, clutching the back of his head, but play continued and Mbeumo stunned the home crowd with an early breakthrough.
While United celebrated, Mac Allister was being treated by two physios and later returned to action wearing head protection.
VAR could not intervene since no foul occurred, although referees typically pause the game when a head injury is suspected.
However, the Premier League match centre told Sky Sports that Oliver had ‘not seen the injury and therefore couldn’t stop the game’.
That reasoning caught Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher off guard, who said: ‘He was on the floor holding his head… Arne Slot is not happy with what happened with Mac Allister.
‘I think a lot of players have taken advantage of the head injury rule. There was a situation in the Arsenal game yesterday where Arsenal were unfortunate when the Fulham player went down.
‘I’m surprised Michael Oliver hasn’t pulled that back with a head injury.’
Ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock also felt the decision not to stop play was incorrect.
‘There’s a bit of contention about this goal among the Liverpool fans, they think that there’s a head injury in midfield,’ he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘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.
‘Going back to the head injury that Mac Allister received, it was from an elbow by Van Dijk, his own player.
‘That doesn’t matter, play should still be stopped for a head injury. Manchester United won’t care.’
Following United’s early goal, club legend Gary Neville said: ‘What a first minute it is for United! The travelling fans are delirious.
‘Mbeumo and Cunha connect. Mbeumo runs round the back of Van Dijk. I don’t think Van Dijk sees him! Mbeumo is like a boxer, off he goes! A stunning start for United!
‘There’s a lot of talk about the United system for obvious reasons. But United caused Liverpool a lot of problems last season because Liverpool didn’t know who was meant to be picking up who.’
Liverpool, reigning Premier League champions, entered the match on a three-game losing streak, while Manchester United had defeated newly-promoted Sunderland before the international break.
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