Hackett applauds Howard Webb for major Premier League change before Liverpool v Bournemouth
Liverpool are set to contend with new Premier League guidelines when they take on Bournemouth on Friday evening.
Arne Slot’s side will welcome the Cherries to Anfield for the season’s opening game, as they look to launch a bid for consecutive Premier League titles.
Several summer signings are expected to make their English top-flight debuts, including Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, who scored as Liverpool lost the Community Shield to Crystal Palace last week.
Some focus, however, will be on referee Anthony Taylor, who is set to be the first to act upon fresh instructions from the Premier League’s officiating body, PGMOL.
This article includes exclusive opinion from former FIFA referee Keith Hackett.
New rules on grappling hoped to ‘deliver better performances’ from referees
The new rules, shared by Howard Webb, largely pertain to the grappling that can often be seen taking place during corners and free-kicks.
Referees have been told to look out for incidents in which players hold opponents with both arms without focus on the ball, and in which an attacker’s movement is prohibited by holding.
Such instances should expect to be punished by the awarding of fouls and, indeed, penalties if taking place inside the box.
Simulation is also set to be more closely judged, with the latest guidelines in place following feedback from Premier League clubs.
| Opponent | Date | Kick-off | Venue | Referee |
| Bournemouth | 15 August | 8pm BST | Anfield | Anthony Taylor |
Speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, former PGMOL head Keith Hackett praised the changes.
“I am sure that referees will have been informed a few weeks ago at their annual briefing meetings about this approach,” he said.
“I applaud Howard Webb for highlighting and signalling what his referees’ approach will be to grappling in the penalty area.
“So far in the pre-season friendlies involving Premier League and Championship clubs, I have not seen any change of approach.
“So what will happen when the Premier League season kicks off tomorrow? Free kicks, penalty kicks by the dozen when grappling takes place.
“Or will the cynical witness four to six weeks of a flurry of decisions, and then normal service resume?
Those people who produced the VAR stats either have no knowledge of the laws of the game or started their careers on the Dandy and Beano are operating in the world of fiction, not reality.
“Let’s hope that the referees deliver better performances.”
Premier League referees under pressure to produce consistency
Also among the changes this season will be the addition of a new time-wasting rule for goalkeepers, which will see a corner awarded for the opposition if the ball is held for more than eight seconds.
The start of last season saw a supposed change, too, with referees told to book any player who kicked the ball away to waste time.
The problem was that just a couple of months into the season, the offence appeared to no longer be punished by referees.
With the latest guidelines set to be implemented, officials will be under pressure to maintain consistency or risk further damaging their already unsteady reputations.
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