Officially Speaking – with Keith Hackett
REVIEW OF PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES
Saturday 4th July 2020
MANCHESTER UNITED 5 BOURNEMOUTH 2
REFEREE: Mike Dean
The challenge by Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma on United’s Martial deserved more than the yellow card issued by Mike Dean. Lerma’s challenge was excessive and endangered the safety of his opponent, with his boot finishing high on his opponent’s leg.
Mike Dean and VAR were spot on when awarding a penalty kick headed back was deliberately handled by a Bournemouth player
Mike Dean later pulled a rabbit out of the hat when surprising everyone after the ball struck the shoulder of an Eric Bailly of Manchester United.
Amazingly the VAR on inspection supported the penalty kick decision. The law will change next season with the following guideline, and you can see that it simplifies the area of the hand/arm that is penalised.
It was good to see Dean later penalise a holding offence just outside the penalty area which resulted in a goal direct from the free-kick.
Rashford of United had the ball in the net only to see it ruled out by England’s finest Assistant Referee Darren Cann. The decision went to VAR and you witnessed the quality of that flag for offside.
LEICESTER CITY 3 CRYSTAL PALACE 0
REFEREE: Jon Moss
I have to offer a word of congratulations to former Stocksbridge Park and Halifax Town player Jamie Vardy who scored his 100th Premier League goal and then followed up with another.
CHELSEA 3 WATFORD 0
REFEREE: Kevin Friend
Kevin Friend was in an excellent position to award a penalty kick to Chelsea which was scored by Willian. The defender had no intention of playing the ball and using his body like a battering ram bundled over his opponent and confirmed by VAR. It was a careless challenge by the defender
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 ARSENAL 2
REFEREE: Michael Oliver
This was a solid performance by Michael Oliver and it was good to see him maintaining high levels of concentration and awareness.
The game passed by without controversy and Arsenal were the worthy winners
NORWICH CITY 0 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION 1
REFEREE: Stuart Attwell
There cannot be a way back for Norwich City now. It is a good job for their players that there are no spectators in the stadium as they would have been venting their fury towards the players for producing an inept performance.
Norwich City are doomed I am afraid.
There were no problems with Stuart Attwell who is high on confidence and delivering some solid performances
Sunday 5th July 2020
BURNLEY 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 1
REFEREE: Peter Bankes
The referee was officiating his tenth game in the Premier League and performed extremely well. He communicates well and quietly gets on with the job in front of him.
Sheffield United appealed for a penalty kick early in the game when the ball accidentally struck the arm of a defender. The referee and VAR were correct to reject the appeals.
This was a particularly good performance from this referee who now should be given Premier League games on a more consistent basis.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 WEST HAM UNITED 2
REFEREE: Craig Pawson
In the eighth minute, Shelvey struck the ball towards his opponent’s goal and it hit West Ham’s Ogbonna’s right arm, resulting in an appeal for a penalty kick.
Craig Pawson judged that the silhouette of the defender was not increased and that he was attempting to get his arm out of the way. Pawson’s judgment was correct to not award a penalty kick.
West Ham United took the lead twice only to see hosts Newcastle United draw level on each occasion.
LIVERPOOL 2 ASTON VILLA 0
REFEREE: Paul Tierney
In the third minute, Liverpool’s Salah was inside his opponent’s penalty area and surrounded by three defenders. He knew there was nowhere to go and was looking for a penalty kick going to ground rather easily.
Referee Tierney was close at hand and waved aside appeals and play continued without a VAR check. It was a good piece of officiating
In the 30th minute, the ball was crossed from a corner kick. An Aston Villa player went to head the ball and it struck his hand. The referee remained unmoved and VAR did not intervene. Yet again, this was the correct decision by Tierney.
SOUTHAMPTON 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
This was a terrific game of football with the match won by a long shot from Southampton Chez Adams who looked up and saw Man City’s goalkeeper off the line.
Keith Hackett
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