Liverpool’s ‘greatest’ enemy returns

After almost a year in the shadows following his controversial VAR blunder, referee Darren England is set to return to a game involving Liverpool. His last involvement with the Reds was marred by a “significant human error” that sent shockwaves through the Premier League.

The incident in question occurred during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in October last year, when Luis Díaz had a legitimate goal ruled out for offside.

Despite clear video evidence showing Díaz was onside, the goal wasn’t awarded, and PGMOL—the governing body of referees—later admitted it was a “clear and obvious factual error.”

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The fallout was swift: England, the VAR official that day, was removed from officiating Liverpool matches for the remainder of the 2023/24 season, with the financial implications also hitting hard.

Now, in a twist of fate, the 38-year-old referee will make his return to a Liverpool match, serving as the fourth official in the Reds’ clash with Wolves this Saturday. His return raises one burning question: will this be a clean slate or another chapter of controversy?

Liverpool fans haven’t forgotten the dramatic error that led their club to demand the release of the VAR audio, which eventually exposed the chaotic decision-making process. With PGMOL pledging to improve standards through specialized VAR training, all eyes will be on England to see whether lessons have been learned—or if the ghosts of the past will come back to haunt him.

Can Darren England regain trust, or will Liverpool fans be bracing themselves for more VAR drama?