After Nottingham Forest recently brought up the topic of officials’ teams, a report revealed how personal allegiances affect each of the 20 main Premier League referees.

After Nott’m Forest were on the end of some incorrect refereeing decisions against Everton, they released an extraordinary statement saying they had “warned the PGMOL that the VAR,” Stuart Attwell, was “a Luton fan.”

For a multitude of reasons this didn’t go down well and, while the tone of Forest’s words were wrong in insinuating bias, they have a point about the general appointments of officials in the Premier League.

After the incident, the Telegraph released a report detailing who several of the 20 main Premier League referees support, as well as declaring which officials are prohibited from managing certain clubs.

From those selected by the newspaper, five aren’t allowed to officiate Liverpool matches due to allegiances to the Reds or their rivals.

Darren Bond, Jarred Gillett, Peter Bankes, Rob Jones and Michael Salisbury were the five named, three of whom come from Merseyside or nearby areas.

Just two of the 20 are originally from Manchester, Anthony Taylor and Chris Kavanagh, but neither are forbidden from taking charge of Man City or Man United.

Taylor has long been down as an Altrincham supporter and Kavanagh is reportedly a fan of non-league Droylsden.

While it has long been questioned why referees from Manchester can take charge of clubs in their city and Liverpool, it is worth noting Mike Dean, a Tranmere fan, was from Merseyside and refereed teams from both cities, too.

Outside the North West, two referees can’t do Sheffield United or Sheffield Wednesday games, two can’t do Swindon matches and two can’t do Wigan fixtures.

Interestingly, though just a coincidence, none of the 20 referees to feature in the report are from England’s two biggest cities, London and Birmingham.

Forest haven’t backed down on the topic of Attwell’s appointment as the VAR for their match, later stating: “This was an issue we raised with PGMOL prior to the fixture because of the fear of the side show that would ensue if anything went wrong with officiating in the game.

“That fear has materialised, as the correctness of three important decisions against the club have been called into doubt.”

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Gary Neville feels Liverpool have a big advantage compared to rivals Manchester United and Arsenal when it comes to replacing an iconic manager in Jurgen Klopp

Gary Neville feels Liverpool have a big advantage compared to rivals Manchester United and Arsenal when it comes to replacing an iconic manager in Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool travel to West Ham low on confidence this weekend, but the Hammers aren’t exactly brimming with self-belief themselves currently.

The Reds lost 2-0 at Everton on Wednesday, effectively ending their Premier League title hopes with their 2023/24 season petering out depressingly.

Next up is the Saturday lunchtime trip to West Ham, with victory badly needed to stop the rot that has set in recently.

Ahead of the match, we spoke to West Ham podcaster and fan James Jones (@ByJames Jones) to get the lowdown on his team, David Moyes, the title race and much more.

How positive has this season been?

It started positively and with so much hope after winning the Europa Conference League, but since the turn of the year, it has gone backwards and has become very toxic.

West Ham have gone from being sixth in the Premier League and front-runners to secure a top-six finish, to slipping down to eighth and European qualification no longer in our hands.

That’s thanks to winning just four games in 2024 to this point.

We’ve failed to beat Sheffield United, Burnley, Bournemouth, Fulham and Crystal Palace in the league, and it’s cost us massively.

Is it the right time for Moyes to go?

Yes, I think it is, but the levels he’s taken us to over the last four years were beyond our wildest dreams.

We were deep in a relegation battle when he came back and, since then, we have reached three consecutive European quarter-finals, a Europa League semi-final and won silverware.

We’ve finished in the top seven of the Premier League twice. No one saw it coming.

But Moyes’ failure to build a squad capable of competing across multiple fronts, due to his preference of working with a smaller squad, is a key factor behind why it’s all gone wrong this year. The players are running out of steam.

On top of that, his tactics don’t always complement the talent we have in the squad, hence the silly dropped points against teams at the bottom of the league.

It’s often so negative, and while that had previously proved to be successful and was the foundation behind Moyes’ early success at the club, it’s no longer effective.

That’s evident in the fact we’ve conceded more goals than any one else in the Premier League outside the bottom three.

The feeling is it’s time for the club to move on with a manager who has fresh ideas, a more positive tactical approach and is willing to build a squad that can compete across an entire season, not just two-thirds of one.

Moyes will leave a legend, though. I’ll always love the man.

 

Who would you like to replace him?

There are so many names being thrown around already. I’ve always said someone like Graham Potter would be a good appointment.

The Chelsea job was arguably too big for him, but West Ham are the type of club and project where I think he could build on what he was doing at Brighton.

Aside from that, I quite like what Andoni Iraola is doing at Bournemouth with a relatively small budget.

They play a good brand of football and you would think with a crop of better players he could expand on that at West Ham.

Who have been West Ham’s best and worst players this season?

Jarrod Bowen has been superb and would most likely be everyone’s pick for our best player, but my man is Emerson Palmieri.

He literally doesn’t have a bad game and is so effective down the left, both defensively and going forward.

He goes under the radar a little because his goal and assist numbers are often low, but I’ve always said the sign of a good player is one you don’t notice on the pitch.

That’s Emerson.

His close friendship with Lucas Paqueta also means he and the Brazilian link-up really nicely.

Worst player? Hate to say it because I think everything’s worked against him since he arrived, but it’s Kalvin Phillips.

A loan signing we didn’t need, for starters, but also a player whose confidence needed a club where there was absolutely no pressure of expectation of hitting top levels.

West Ham was the complete opposite and he just hasn’t been able to recover what he had at Leeds and with England.

 

How do you assess Liverpool’s title hopes?

After that defeat to Everton, I think it’s going to be very difficult for Liverpool now.

Three points behind Arsenal and with Man City having two games in hand, it’s no longer in your hands.

It has to be four wins from four and hope Arsenal and City both drop points at least twice in their remaining games.

Who would you like to win the title?

Anyone but Arsenal. The thought of their gloating, cocky and self-entitled fans having any glory upsets me greatly.

It would also give me great pleasure in seeing Declan Rice win nothing after he spent years saying he “wanted to win it all” in his career, only to choose to sign for Arsenal.

They are a club that hasn’t and probably won’t win it all.

 

As for Saturday, where will the key battles take place?

I think it all depends on whether Bowen is fit or not AND if Paqueta turns up.

Paqueta is becoming very inconsistent, but on his day, he can unlock any defence in the world.

We need that on Saturday, and with Bowen’s pace in behind, we will be dangerous in attack.

My concern is in defence. We’re shipping goals for fun at the moment and Kurt Zouma can no longer run, which is a worry against a team with a fast attack like Liverpool.

Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz could have a field day up against our defence if given the time and space on the ball.

 

If you could only have one Liverpool player at West Ham, who would it be?

I think I’ve said it before on this site and I’ll say it again: Diogo Jota. I just love him.

He scores all sorts of goals and can play pretty much anywhere in a front-three, or even a little deeper behind the attack.

It’s a shame that he’s having injury problems at the moment, but I have to say I’m pleased he won’t be playing on Saturday.

Finally, what’s your prediction?

Given Liverpool’s form, I think we have a chance of taking something this weekend.

But I’m aware that Jurgen Klopp will not want to see any more dropped points as he attempts to take the title race to the final weekend.

As long as Liverpool are still in the race, there’s still a chance, and that’s what West Ham are up against this weekend.

I’m going to remain positive and predict a 2-1 West Ham win, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the other way round.

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Liverpool are stepping up their search to discover their successor to Jurgen Klopp who is due to leave Anfield at the end of the season

Liverpool are stepping up their search to discover their successor to Jurgen Klopp who is due to leave Anfield at the end of the season

Our weekly Liverpool columnists react to Wednesday's damaging defeat by Everton

Debating what needs to happen with Liverpool's forward line this summer after Jurgen Klopp departs

Our weekly Liverpool columnists react to Wednesday's damaging defeat by Everton

Debating what needs to happen with Liverpool's forward line this summer after Jurgen Klopp departs

Dirk Kuyt is ideally placed to assess the merits of Feyenoord’s Arne Slot, the man Liverpool have identified as Jurgen Klopp’s potential successor.

A legendary figure at Feyenoord, Kuyt scored more than 100 goals across two spells at the club, and the former Liverpool forward has closely watched Slot’s three-year reign in Rotterdam. He gained a fascinating insight into Slot’s methods during a week spent behind the scenes shadowing him.

Slot has said it is “clear” he wants the Liverpool job and Kuyt, who has recently celebrated leading Beerschot to the Belgian second-division title, also knows how to succeed at Anfield.

Here, speaking to James Pearce, he explains what he learnt from Slot and why he thinks the Feyenoord manager has what it takes to fill Klopp’s shoes.

Feyenoord are my team in Holland. My son plays in the academy there so now and then myself and Arne have some contact.

It was around this time last year that he gave me the opportunity to spend a week with him, so I could watch how he goes about his job. It was a fascinating experience.

He’s a manager who likes to help younger coaches like me and it says a lot about the type of person he is that he’s willing to share his thoughts and vision so openly.

The timing was perfect as it was just before Feyenoord became Dutch champions. Watching his training sessions was so interesting in terms of the drills and how he prepares his team.

Arne loves the game and thinks about football 24/7. That passion shines through when he speaks. He’s always studying other teams and thinking about how his team can improve and evolve.

Arne Slot helped Feyenoord win the KNVB Cup this season (ANP via Getty Images)

Tactically, he’s very strong. What people like most in Holland, where his reputation is so high, is that he has his own vision, his style of play.

Nowadays managers always get compared. Is it the Jurgen Klopp style? Is it the Jose Mourinho style? Is it the Pep Guardiola style?

The answer is that Slot has his own style. He doesn’t copy anyone. He knows exactly what he wants and he believes in it. It’s attractive, attacking football. He likes to play an aggressive defence, high intensity, with the game played in the opponent’s half, but it’s his way. It’s different from Klopp but a lot of the principles are the same.

What struck me about Arne was his ability to make the players believe in what he believes in. I talked to some of them when I was there and they all spoke so highly about him. They love how he organises the training sessions and how he gets his ideas across. He’s an excellent communicator and man manager.

Watching Feyenoord in recent years, you can see his signature on the team in how he wants football to be played. Everyone bought into his vision. He gets the best out of people.

The job he took on after arriving from AZ Alkmaar in 2021 wasn’t an easy one. Some questioned whether he was the right man because he hadn’t previously trained a top Dutch team, but Feyenoord finished third and reached the final of the Europa Conference League, where they lost narrowly to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

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Before his second season, he lost a lot of key players. Top scorer Luis Sinisterra was sold to Leeds United, Tyrell Malacia went to Manchester United, Marcos Senesi to Bournemouth and Fredrik Aursnes to Benfica.

Arne effectively had to build a new side. People doubted the new players who arrived and said he would need time to get things right, but he proved them wrong. Outperforming Ajax and PSV to become champions was unbelievable because nobody expected that at the start of the season.

Before this season, he lost Orkun Kokcu to Benfica but they still won the KNVB Cup (Dutch FA Cup) and will finish second behind PSV, who have a really strong squad.

The news that Liverpool had decided to go for Slot came out of the blue. I was surprised because since Jurgen said he would be leaving at the end of the season, other names had been mentioned as possible contenders.

But it makes a lot of sense. I haven’t spoken to Arne but if everything is agreed, Liverpool have made a very good choice. It’s interesting for me as a Dutchman who is both a Feyenoord and Liverpool supporter. I’m a bit excited, to be honest.

Slot in the 2022 Europa Conference League final (Nikola Krstic/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

He’s ready for the next step in his career. The doubters will say, ‘But Arne Slot has never trained a foreign team’, but we know how successful Jurgen proved to be and he hadn’t coached outside his homeland before he came to Liverpool.

Louis van Gaal once said, ‘When you’re ready, you’re ready.’ It doesn’t matter what age you are or how much experience you have — it’s about your qualities.

You can’t compare Feyenoord with Liverpool but Arne is used to dealing with pressure and high expectations. When he’s been faced with difficult situations, when results didn’t work out, when he was faced with difficult questions from the media, he always stayed in control and stuck to his principles and the vision of how he wanted to play. He never gave me a negative experience.

He’s had opportunities to move to the Premier League previously but he didn’t feel like those projects were right. He’s been waiting for the right step to take.

Arne wouldn’t go anywhere unless he really believed in the project. If he says ‘yes’ then it’s because he’s convinced he can do great things in the job he’s taking on. Arne is the type of guy who would say ‘no’ to any big club if he had any doubts.

Following in the footsteps of Jurgen isn’t easy but Arne will do it his own way and give everything to make the club successful. He’s determined and driven with a lot of self-belief.

His style of play is exactly what Liverpool supporters love to see at Anfield. He’s also good with the media because he explains himself very clearly. As Feyenoord have so many foreign players, he conducts his meetings in English so there will be no issues over language.

At Feyenoord, he’s loved by the fans. They don’t want to lose him and it will be sad to see him leave — but from my perspective, if he has to go anywhere, I’m happy that it’s to Liverpool. He’s not only a very good manager, but also a very good human being.

(Top photos: Andrew Powell/Liverpool/ANP via Getty Images)

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Slot says it is 'clear' he wants to be Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool successor - Kuyt explains why the Feyenoord manager has what it takes

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as a famous team talk by Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has emerged as he continues to be linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp as the next Liverpool manager

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as a famous team talk by Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has emerged as he continues to be linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp as the next Liverpool manager

Liverpool are next up against West Ham United in the Premier League with Jurgen Klopp facing some selection posers

Liverpool are next up against West Ham United in the Premier League with Jurgen Klopp facing some selection posers

With four games left of the season and little to play for after Liverpool lost at Everton on Wednesday, it is understandable that the focus for some has shifted to what comes next: Arne Slot. Now confirmed by the man himself, negotiations are underway to bring the Dutch coach to Anfield.

Jürgen Klopp might have pointed out that Champions League qualification is not mathematically secured yet for the Reds but it would take a remarkable collapse for that not to be sorted out. Liverpool is still eight points ahead of Spurs even if you imagine that Tottenham has already won its two games in hand.

That means that it is nearly confirmed that Liverpool will end Klopp's final season with one trophy — the Carabao Cup — and a top-four finish. It wouldn't be the German's most successful campaign but it certainly wouldn't be his worst either.

READ MORE: 'No secret' - Arne Slot confirms Liverpool negotiations and outlines what he wants to happen

READ MORE: Arne Slot has said all the right things to prove exactly why he's perfect next Liverpool manager

In all likelihood, the only thing that has stopped Liverpool from winning the title is injuries. Mid-season, the number of problems that arose was coped with at the time, but there has been a lag effect.

The likes of Joe Gomez and Wataru Endō have looked in recent weeks like they have been overplayed, while Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai have been shadows of their former selves since making a return. Klopp's squad, collectively, looks shattered.

Ultimately, though, the only reason that it feels to Reds fans like the end of the world that the title push has been derailed is the circumstances rather than the manner. Liverpool has overachieved this season, in many respects, even if it might not feel like it just yet.

Last summer, Liverpool rebuilt its entire midfield. It had finished behind Manchester United and Newcastle in the Premier League standings and key figures in the dressing room — Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho — moved on.

Klopp viewed this season as a fresh start and labeled his new-look side as Liverpool 2.0. Were it not for the fact that the German is leaving in four games' time, what has unfolded would be heralded as being a big step forward.

As ever, there is context and nuance. Liverpool was in pole position for the Premier League title only a couple of weeks ago and it was in the Reds' hands. From there, it has collapsed. Even then, though, it would have taken perfection to stave off Manchester City and Arsenal. Just one draw could have been fatal.

Last summer, had you said to most people that Liverpool would end up coming so close to winning the league and would also pick up some silverware at Wembley, everyone would have taken that. Only now has that changed because of Klopp.

That is only natural, of course, and no one is wrong to feel that way. When something is so close, the desperation for it to have happened is understandable. But equally, the reality is that Liverpool has improved dramatically this season and should do so again next year even with the change of manager.

If it is Slot who takes over, as appears close to being the case, then the Dutchman will have a talented squad available to him with the experience of this season under their belt. With a couple of transfer additions, the team will improve further as well and it will be his task to build on the foundations left behind.

When the disappointment of how the Klopp era is set to come to an end is replaced by the excitement for the season and a new head coach, Liverpool will realize its current reality. Things are never as bad as they might seem; this season has actually been a lot better than most people anticipated, even if it might take a little longer to appreciate that amid the current hurt.

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Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool and Feyenoord are in negotiations over a deal that could see him succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in the summer. The Dutchman wants the move and has spoken out about it to confirm as much.

"It's no secret that I want to go to Liverpool," he has said, via Fabrizio Romano, ahead of Feyenoord taking on Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie. "The clubs are negotiating and I am waiting to see what will come out of it. We have to wait until an agreement is reached, but I have every confidence in that."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk gave his approval of the potential appointment after his side was beaten by Everton. "I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment," Van Dijk told Viaplay at Goodison Park.

READ MORE: Liverpool defender admits to uncertainty over future amid search for Jürgen Klopp successor

READ MORE: Arne Slot has said all the right things to prove exactly why he's perfect next Liverpool manager

"I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach. Only I think from what I read and hear is that it's still far from being completed. We shall see."

Liverpool has been impressed by Slot's work. He won the league title last year with Feyenoord and won the Dutch cup this season. He has a superb track record of developing players and making the most of his resources.

While PSV has overtaken Feyenoord in the Eredivisie standings this year and is set to confirm itself as league champion, Slot has undoubtedly got his side overperforming. If he does take over at Liverpool, he will become the 22nd man to be in full-time charge of the Reds and only the fourth from outside the UK.

Liverpool.com says: It certainly looks like it is going to happen. If Slot has been confident enough to talk about it like this then clearly there is something in it and it sounds like a deal might be close to being agreed. Given the public nature of the statement given by the 45-year-old, things might develop quickly.

Liverpool fans still have four matches left of the Klopp era to try and enjoy, despite the Premier League title being out of reach after the disappointing defeat to Everton. His final games are against West Ham United, Spurs, Aston Villa and Wolves.

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Liverpool is advancing with a move to bring Arne Slot to the club to take over from Jürgen Klopp. The Reds have identified the 45-year-old Eredivisie winner as someone who ticks a lot of boxes in their search.

And Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has given his approval if the appointment takes place. "I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment," Van Dijk told Viaplay following his side's 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park against Everton on Wednesday.

"I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach. Only I think from what I read and hear is that it's still far from being completed. We shall see."

READ MORE: 'No secret' - Arne Slot confirms Liverpool negotiations and outlines what he wants to happen

READ MORE: Arne Slot has said all the right things to prove exactly why he's perfect next Liverpool manager

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool could complete a move for Slot as early as this weekend with talks developing quickly. There is no release clause in the Feyenoord head coach's contract after he signed a new deal last summer amid interest in him from Tottenham and he is expected to cost more than $12.5m (£10.0m/€11.6m) .

Liverpool admires the work that Slot has done at Feyenoord, where he won the league last season and last weekend added the Dutch cup to his collection. Getting the best out of his resources and playing in a similar style to Klopp are also big ticks in the boxes of Slot, who has previously admitted that he wants to work in the Premier League.

Liverpool.com says: Slot appears to be a logical choice for Liverpool. The more you learn about him, the more you can see why he appeals to Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes.

There is only really the question about whether he can deal with the step up to managing Liverpool compared to being in the Netherlands but that is something that can only be discovered by giving him a go. That would have been the same with the step up for Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen or Rúben Amorim from Sporting CP.

By all accounts, he has a positive personality and those with knowledge of how he is at Feyenoord paint a picture of someone who has a very good relationship with the fans. That is an absolute must for the Reds for whoever takes over from Klopp.

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