Leeds United handed referee who made 'significant error' in recent game ahead of Bournemouth clash
Leeds United have made a good start to the Premier League season and face Bournemouth next at Elland Road
Leeds United have begun life back in the Premier League in confident fashion and host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth next up at Elland Road on Saturday (15:00 BST), as both sides aim to build on a solid start to the season.
The Yorkshire outfit are unbeaten at home following victory over Everton on the opening day and a goalless draw with Newcastle United, with Daniel Farke’s men yet to concede a goal on home turf. They came back to win 3-1 away at Wolves last time out.
The Cherries will provide a stern test, though, sitting in fourth place following three victories and one solitary last-minute defeat against champions Liverpool. They have reacted admirably to losing top young defensive talent over the summer.
Leeds will take heart from the fact they have won 11 of 15 previous encounters with Bournemouth, winning 4-3 last time the two sides met at Elland Road in November 2022. The match officials for the encounter have been announced, with experienced referee Michael Oliver confirmed as the man in the middle for the top-flight clash on Saturday.
Michael Oliver referee for Leeds vs Bournemouth despite recent controversy
The Premier League have announced who will be officiating across the Premier League this weekend. At Elland Road, referee Oliver will be aided by assistants Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, fourth official Jarred Gillett and VAR Tim Wood. Assistant VAR will be Wade Smith.
Oliver is respected as being amongst the top referees in the Premier League, having officiated more than 400 games including experience in the Champions League and World Cup. But he has been on the end of criticism at times, as is experienced by all referees.
He was recently involved in a controversial incident last month at Molineux, as Wolves were not awarded a penalty against Everton after Iliman Ndiaye had appeared to trip Hugo Bueno in the box. Oliver waved away appeals by the home side and was not sent to the screen by VAR Craig Pawson, which was later ruled as incorrect by the Key Match Incidents panel and deemed a ‘significant error’ by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The mistake was attributed more towards VAR than Oliver himself, who returned to referee in the Premier League at Burnley vs Liverpool after the international break. Leeds will be hoping that any similar errors do not occur at Elland Road on Saturday as the Whites hope to take further strides up the division and get significant early points on the board in their quest for Premier League survival.
‘Three precious points’ - Farke speaks after Leeds’ victory at Wolves
Farke praised his side following their comeback win at Wolves last weekend and will hope similar spirit is on show when the Whites host Bournemouth in front of their home supporters.
"Today we were more effective in both boxes, and scored three goals. I am pretty happy and delighted to have three precious points. What I liked it as 1-0 down we stuck to our plans and our processes. We scored three fantastic goals,” Farke told Match of the Day.
Goalscorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin added after scoring his first goal for Leeds: "Strikers feed off goals. It gives you confidence. For me getting that goal, it's nice to get my first one for the club and I'll look to build on it. I think they [the Wolves fans] had a chant going. I heard my name, and I thought 'why are they singing my name?'. So obviously the best way to shut them up is score a goal at that end and point to my shirt."