Data surveying Premier League discipline has revealed Liverpool are benefitting from the most lenient treatment by referees out of the traditional 'Big Six' teams this season.
The age-old debate over referees reared its head again at the weekend as Arsenal fumed when William Saliba was shown a red card for hacking down Bournemouth striker Evanilson when he was the last man standing in Saturday's shock 2-0 defeat.
Mikel Arteta later decided against appealing the sending off that means Saliba will be unavailable for the weekend's huge contest against league leaders Liverpool.
PGMOL Officials were then blasted by Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil a day later after Man City defender John Stones scored a stoppage time winner at Molineux, with the decision proving controversial as Bernardo Silva stood near the goalkeeper in an offside position.
Speaking after the match, O'Neill brazenly accused officials of being unconsciously biased towards the traditional top six clubs, venting: 'There is no chance that people are doing things against Wolves on purpose, but is there something in the subconscious? Are you more likely to give it to Man City than Wolves?
'My senses are heightened when we're against Pep. Are the officials the same? They guarantee me there isn't [bias] but they are human. Maybe there is something subconscious that means we're less likely to get them.
'If I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I'm upsetting the little guy. Nothing against little guys. But there is something in there and they [referees] definitely don't do it on purpose,' he added.
O'Neil has since been asked by the Football Association to clarify his comments and Opta has now revealed what teams are given the rub of the green when it comes to cards being shown.
Liverpool supporters can be happy knowing their side are booked the least when it comes to the amount of fouls they get away with before a card is brandished.
Arne Slot's side currently average 5.3 fouls for every yellow card shown this season, with title challengers Arsenal following close behind with an average of 4.6 fouls.
Tottenham just beat their London rivals to second spot in the rankings with a card shown to one of their players every 4.9 fouls committed as the actions of referees continues to be scrutinised.
Meanwhile, Arsenal's title rivals and reigning champions Manchester City receive the harshest treatment from referees with Pep Guardiola's stars being booked every 2.8 fouls committed.
Chelsea can complain of similar unfortunes with the Blues averaging a booking every 2.9 fouls, while Man United find middle ground with a player sanctioned after an average of 3.3 infringements.
The PGMOL have been keen to crack down on discipline this season with players being punished on more frequently for timewasting as Arsenal have found out the hard way.
Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have both been given early marching orders on separate occasions for kicking the ball away, while Saliba's weekend sending off means the Gunners top the list for most red cards issued this season (3).
However, Man United recently had a red card shown to captain Bruno Fernandes rescinded after VAR was found to have made a mistake in not reversing his sending off against Tottenham.
Luckoruyz
30
Yes most of the referees in the EPL are on the payroll of Man City funders it's an open secret hence English football has been overtaken by La liga ,week in week out there is a referee scandal in a match in EPL shame!!!!!!
comemorst
15
this stats is misleading to say the least. the game is football, there are always going to be fouls. it is the type of foul that matters. for the most part liverpool play clean football in comparison to most teams so of coarse they'll get less cards. so this stats is lacking and misleading to say the least, it's not because of the referees, it's the type of football we play and we do not get most of the fouls against us.