Capital One Cup: Dermot Gallagher says referee Michael Oliver coped admirably with frantic Chelsea v Liverpool tie

Chelsea’s Capital One Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool would have been one of the toughest matches Michael Oliver has refereed, according to Dermot Gallagher.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, former Premier League official Gallagher gave his view on Oliver’s performance and reviewed the big talking points from a pulsating match at Stamford Bridge.

Referee difficulty: Liverpool v Chelsea 

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DERMOT SAYS: “I thought the game was fantastic, this is what English football is all about. Everybody who watched that game would have enjoyed it. When you’re a referee coming through you want to be a part of these big games. It was one of the toughest games he'd (Michael Oliver) have had. They’re massive, massive, teams playing for big stakes. When that happens the competitiveness is there and the referee has to be at the top of his game. Michael coped admirably.”

'Stamp' One: Diego Costa on Emre Can

At the end of the day, we're second guessing, the only person who really knows whether it was intentional is Costa himself.

WHAT HAPPENED: Costa was accused of stamping on Emre Can as the pair clashed on the touchline. The Chelsea striker was attempting to grab the ball for a throw-in when he came down hard on the lower part of Can's right leg.

DERMOT’S VIEW: “The pictures don’t look good. It’s interesting. The FA will obviously look at it, they’ll speak to the referee and we’ll see over the next few days what’s going to happen. At the end of the day we’re second guessing, the only person who really knows whether it was intentional is Costa himself.”

'Stamp' Two: Costa on Martin Skrtel 

WHAT HAPPENED: Costa was involved in a second incident, this time with Martin Skrtel as the two fought for the ball in the Liverpool penalty area. Costa's boot landed on the leg of the Liverpool defender after the ball had been cleared. 

DERMOT’S VIEW: “I think this one is a complete accident. The reason I say that is because both players are in the air. There’s no doubt Costa’s foot comes down on Skrtel but they are in the air as it happens and both players have got nowhere to go. I think the fact he comes down onto him is purely by chance. For me it’s just one of those things that happen in football. You have clashes and you have to accept that.”

Costa penalty appeal

WHAT HAPPENED: The battle between the striker and the defender was an ongoing theme throughout the match. Costa appealed for a penalty when Skrtel went to ground in the area but Oliver waved away the appeals and a goal kick was given. 

DERMOT’S VIEW: “It’s easy for me to say sitting here, but after watching the replay I did think it was a penalty. Costa has been very clever, he’s shielded the ball and Skrtel has committed himself. That’s the thing. Once you’ve committed yourself and go to ground like that, you have to take the ball. The fact that the referee has given the goal kick says he didn’t play the ball.”

Jordan Henderson: Two wrongs don’t make a red 

WHAT HAPPENED: Already on a booking, Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson stopped a productive Chelsea attack, orchestrated by Eden Hazard, with his hand. No card was given. 

DERMOT’S VIEW:  “If he had been sent off, he couldn’t have argued. However, you have to bear in mind that not every handball is a yellow card. The referee has to decide whether he’s broken up a promising attack and from his view point he obviously thought no. But from other angles you could say yes.”

To shake or not to shake? That is the question

WHAT HAPPENED:  Oliver awarded a free-kick to Liverpool in a dangerous area down the left flank and booked Branislav Ivanovic for the foul. The defender was seemingly in agreement with the decision and the pair shook hands as he came over to accept his punishment. 

DERMOT’S VIEW: “Michael Oliver is a very good communicator. In football you have a mutual respect between referee and player and you have to keep that respect there. But you also have to keep your distance of authority and Michael is particularly good at that. He can get a message across to players and get them to respect him without losing the fact he is the referee and makes the ultimate decisions regarding foul play.”

The fourth official – what does he actually do?

WHAT HAPPENED:  Fourth official Phil Dowd had a busy evening acting as a sounding board for all Brendan Rodgers’ and Jose Mourinho’s queries and rants about refereeing decisions. 

DERMOT’S VIEW: “It’s a very difficult job. I’m not joking. You are there to aid the referee as much as you can on the pitch. Sometimes they can see things that would aid his match control. You are also there to act as a communicator between the technical areas and the referee. The referee may say ‘I’ve given a foul for this’ and the fourth official will feed it back to the manager. It’s a matter of being a communicator and a peacemaker. Over the course of the match you have to do your best to aid your colleague.”