Premier League make Newcastle United official decision after Liverpool controversy & Alan Shearer fury

Referee Anthony Taylor interacts with Dan Burn of Newcastle United and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Anthony Taylor has been appointed as match referee for the Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United on Saturday evening (kick-off 5:30pm).

Taylor has officiated the Magpies twice this campaign, and both fixtures have been subject to controversial penalty decisions.

The Wythenshawe-born official awarded Newcastle a penalty during the 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers in October after Fabian Schar was adjudged to have been fouled by Hwang Hee-chan inside the area. Callum Wilson converted from the spot, leaving Wolves boss Gary O'Neil furious at full-time.

“It was a scandalous decision,” said O’Neil. “It was a terrible on-field decision, and terrible that VAR didn’t intervene so I thought they got it badly wrong. (Hwang) has a big touch…and then goes to clear the ball. He makes such minimal contact with Schar, hardly any, a glance of the boot.

“Schar’s is already on the way down and the ball actually hits ‘Channy’ on the other foot before he even makes contact with Schar so technically he gets the ball before he makes contact with Schar, so that’s why it’s a terrible decision.”

Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs was later handed a one-match ban and fined £4,000 by the FA for swearing at Taylor and calling him "useless".

At Anfield on New Year's Day, it was Newcastle on the wrong end of a penalty decision when Liverpool forward Diogo Jota threw himself to ground under minimal contact from goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Howe's side were comfortably beaten 4-2 but that didn't stop Alan Shearer and Ian Wright from hitting out on social media with the former Arsenal man posting on X: "Would rather go down for a penalty than put the ball in an empty net! Seen it all!"

Meanwhile, Howe said: “There are two ways to look at it. The challenge on Sean Longstaff for me was a penalty, and that changes the game massively.

“And then Liverpool go up the other end in the same attack, and for me that wasn’t a penalty. That’s a very tough moment for us.”

Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn with Darren Bond as fourth official. Tony Harrington will be the VAR for the match, assisted by Darren Cann.