Liverpool supporters weren’t impressed with the latest guest on The Overlap
Howard Webb was confirmed this week as the latest guest on the popular podcast The Overlap, and Liverpool supporters were quick to greet the announcement with a rather sarcastic message. Referees chief Webb joined Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Wayne Rooney and Jill Scott for a chat about officiating in the Premier League and more.
And most Liverpool fans responded to his appearance with a similar quip, lauding him as another former Manchester United star appearing on the podcast.
The Overlap has invited plenty of ex-United players on from Neville and Keane’s time at the club, including Paul Scholes, Peter Schmeichel, Patrice Evra and Rooney. Webb was criticised during his refereeing career for giving United favourable decisions, especially during the 2008/09 title race in which Liverpool finished four points behind their bitter rivals.
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One such decision, a penalty that turned the tide as United recovered from 2-0 down to beat Tottenham 5-2 in April, incensed Liverpool fans. It was a decision that then-Spurs boss Harry Redknapp labelled “terrible” and “a gift”, with even Sir Alex Ferguson admitting that it was a “favourable” decision.
Redknapp said: “The turning point was definitely the penalty. It turned the game in their favour without a doubt.
“At that stage I couldn’t see us getting beat. It was a gift which wasn’t deserved. It was a terrible decision. Howard (Webb) is supposed to be our best ref, but if he’s the best I’d hate to see the worst.”
Three years later, Webb again left Liverpool raging when awarding United an early penalty and sending Steven Gerrard off in a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford, prompting Reds winger Ryan Babel to post a mocked up picture of the official in a United shirt on Twitter, a decision that saw him slapped with a £10,000 fine by the FA.
Liverpool fans clearly haven’t forgotten, with one responding “Another United legend on then” and another saying “why is it a former Man United player every week”. There were hundreds of similar comments as supporters made their feelings known about the man now responsible for referees across the country.
Perhaps it’s a blessing that Jamie Carragher sat this podcast out.
