FA make an announcement that is unlikely to please Arne Slot ahead of Man City vs Liverpool - opinion
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Manchester City and Liverpool are set to clash in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 4.The Reds go into the game having already lost to Pep Guardiola’s side on two occasions this season.Slot could also be without Jeremie Frimpong for the tie, while the Dutchman is unlikely to be pleased with the FA now confirming that Michael Oliver is going to be the man in the middle on the day. Give me your SCORE PREDICTIONS for Saturday’s Man City clash 🔮 Who will book a place in the semi-final at Wembley?
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images Arne Slot’s unwanted history with Michael OliverThe FA have released a list of all the officials set to be involved in the weekend’s cup action, with Man City vs Liverpool as follows:Referee: Michael OliverAssistant Referees: Stuart Burt and Timothy WoodFourth Official: Paul TierneyVAR: Paul HowardAssistant VAR: Sian Massey-EllisSlot, whose future at Anfield continues to be questioned, will no doubt be hoping to avoid a repeat of the exchange he and Oliver shared in a game last season.Liverpool drew 2-2 with bitter rivals Everton at Goodison Park in a Premier League meeting on February 12, 2025.The Dutchman was shown a straight red card after he clashed with this weekend’s referee shortly after the stalemate. Slot was then handed a two-match ban and fined £70,000 for his actions.According to the BBC, Oliver alleged that the Liverpool coach said: “If we don’t win the league, I’ll [expletive] blame you.”The 47-year-old denied he said that, instead stating he in fact told the referee: “If we don’t win the league, I will have you to thank for that”.Elsewhere, the FA alleged that assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff approached Oliver in an ‘extremely aggressive manner’, and said he was a ‘[expletive] disgrace’.Liverpool’s record under Michael OliverOliver has taken charge of Liverpool (67) times, more than any other team in his career as a referee.In said ties, the Merseyside outfit have picked up 31 wins, drawn 21 matches and lost on 15 occasions.The official has shown yellow cards to Liverpool players 105 times, the third-most behind Arsenal (111) and Everton (106).Oliver has brandished two second yellow cards to Reds stars and shown 18 straight reds, which is more than any other side he has officiated (Everton second with 16).Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox