Bizarre reason Bryan Mbeumo goal stood despite Alexis Mac Allister head injury

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Bryan Mbeumo scored within 90 seconds as Man United took the lead over Liverpool, with referee Michael Oliver seemingly ignoring Alexis Mac Allister‘s head injury. Mac Allister was lying prone on the turf when Mbeumo raced between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to fire in to make it 1-0 at Anfield.

The midfielder had been wiped out by Van Dijk and Mbeumo as the Dutchman initially won an aerial duel, and was clearly clutching the back of his head. Per FA rules, referees are obliged to stop play if a player receives a head injury, but Oliver allowed the game to continue.

The wording of the rules on head injuries explains that any live call over a stoppage would be subjective: “Play is stopped if, in their opinion, a player is seriously injured or receives a head injury.” But it was very obvious that Mac Allister had suffered a head injury and the decision not to stop play rightly frustrated Arne Slot. Liverpool’s head coach remonstrated with officials after Mbeumo’s opening goal, pointing to his head, but it was a futile protest.