Howard Webb (Hull City v Liverpool)

Hull City 3-1 Liverpool

Referee: Howard Webb

Assistant 1: Michael Mullarkey

Assistant 2: Darren Cann

4th Official: Robert Madley

TRR Assessor: Hubert (Leszno, Poland)
Competition: Premier League
Match Difficulty: Easy

THE REFEREE

Foul Detection 


GOOD

Comment... 
The referee's foul detection was good. The referee nicely evaluated two situations in the penalty area, perfectly detecting (and punishing with a yellow card) the dive of #11HULL in the 44th minute and correctly rejecting penalty appeal of HULL after the undeliberate handball of #4LIV in the 72nd minute, just before goal on 2-1. It was also noticed that the ref whistle two-three fouls basing on what he felt and not necessary what he saw. But again, those decisions were also spot on.

Positioning 

POOR

Comment...  

The referee's positioning was below par in many occasions. The referee's view was often partially or even totally obstructed which resulted in missing a seriousness of the #7LIV's offence in the 28th minute or being not sure in the second half about the foul of #8LIV existed and how serious was it. Howard Webb was also hit by the ball in the 43rd minute of play.

Man Management

GOOD

Comment...  

The referee's man management throughout the match was generally good. In some occasions, he chose to talk with players instead of giving easy yellow cards for so-called 50% tactical fouls where the infringement was rather the result of a bit too hard body challenge than deliberate act of stopping an opponent.

Card Issuing

POOR

Comment...  

Two yellow cards were rightly issued by the referee in this game. The first booking went on #6HULL's account for breaking a promissing attack (25') and the second one for well-detected dive of #11HULL in the 44th minute of the match. However, two bookings were clearly missed by the referee. There was no room for interpretation in 2nd minute when #8HULL deliberately stopped a great pass from opponent with his hand. Also #7LIV should have received at least yellow card for malicious elbow-foul in the 28th minute, but due to the obstructed view of Howard Webb and lack of more decisive attitude of AR2 and 4th official, the player finished the match without a caution on his account.

Fitness

GOOD

Comment... 

The referee's fitness was of an good standard. No problems detected.

THE ASSISTANT REFEREES

Assistant 1 - GOOD [8.3]

Assistant 2 - GOOD [8.4]

Comment... 

The assistant referee's had a fairly straight forward match, with just a few offside decisions to call. Darren Cann appeared to be correct in every single situation he was involved in. Michael Mullarkey and Robert Madley, having the perfect view should have informed Howard Webb about the necessity of booking #7LIV for the elbow-foul (28'). The 4th official signaled substitutions and additional time in an adequate manner.

OVERALL

SATISFACTORY

SCORE

8.2/10