Mark Clattenburg makes extraordinary referee suggestion live on air during AC Milan vs Liverpool

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has suggested match official Espen Eskas should have been awarding free kicks to AC Milan to help him keep control of the Champions League tie vs Liverpool. The home crowd at the San Siro had been raucous all night especially after Christian Pulisic gave Milan the early lead.

However, Arne Slot's side managed to recover and turned the tables on their Italian opponents thanks to goals from their centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. As the game passed the hour mark, it had become clear that the crowd were trying their hardest to influence the officials' decisions.

Alan Shearer was impressed by the refereeing, telling Amazon Prime in the 62nd minute: "He certainly hasn't been influenced by this crowd, they don't half make some noise at every decision they want. He hasn't been influenced at all.

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"I think he is just evening it up there isn't he. If he didn't give the first one then he's not giving that one."

Responding, Clattenburg stunned Reds supporters by suggesting Eskas should have given free-kicks to the home side to try and placate the San Siro crowd. "I think the first one is definitely a free-kick," the former referee said, remarking on a contentious decision during Prime's coverage of the game.

"I just think he needs to calm the crowd down, the crowd are against him. They have been putting pressure on him, we saw that with the penalty shout before that.

"I think the ref just needs to give one or two small fouls to get the judgement back." Reds supporters took to social media to express their surprise at hearing Clattenburg's advice for Eskas, who had to deal with a loud San Siro crowd throughout the game.

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