Referee Mike Dean has decided not to officiate at any Premier League games this weekend after he and his family received death threats following recent controversial red card decisions, British media reported on Monday.

Dean was criticized after he sent off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek during their 9-0 defeat at Manchester United last Tuesday and West Ham United midfielder Tomáš Souček during Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Fulham.

After 73 minutes of tense, tactical equality between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, Alisson suffered a goalkeeping meltdown unseen since Loris Karius’ infamous night in Kyiv to transform a 1-1 stalemate to a 3-1 City lead inside three minutes of total madness. 

LONDON — West Ham United manager David Moyes blasted VAR as embarrassing after Tomáš Souček was harshly shown a straight red card in stoppage time of their 0-0 Premier League draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

A drab derby was drifting to its conclusion when midfielder Souček tangled with Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović before a West Ham free kick in stoppage time.

Tomáš Souček Red Card

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle United hung on for a valuable 3-2 victory over Southampton despite finishing a rip-roaring Premier League contest with nine men at St James' Park on Saturday.

Southampton, hammered 9-0 at Manchester United in midweek, fell 2-0 behind after 25 minutes with Joe Willock netting on his Newcastle debut and Miguel Almiron scoring via a large deflection off Jan Bednarek.

BERLIN — RB Leipzig does not yet know where it will play its Champions League last-16 first leg against Liverpool on Feb. 16, with the club working on a number of options if German authorities refuse entry to the English club.

Germany has banned all arrivals from areas affected by COVID-19 mutations until at least Feb. 17, with the only exceptions made for German citizens or residents.

Along with Leipzig, Borussia Mönchengladbach is also weighing its options for the first leg of its tie against Manchester City on Feb. 24 should the ban be extended.

Nicolas Anelka has added a new adventure to his soccer career. The former Real Madrid and PSG player was presented on Wednesday as the new sporting director of the modest Hyères Football Club, a team that is currently in National 2, equivalent to the fourth division in France.

Bienvenue à notre nouveau directeur sportif Nicolas Anelka

Welcome to our new sports director Nicolas Anelka

Bienvenido a nuestro nuevo director deportivo Nicolas Anelka

निदेशक निकोलस अनेल्का

歡迎來到我們的新體育總監

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United returned to winning ways in ruthlessly emphatic fashion with a Premier League record-equalling 9-0 home win over Southampton, who ended the game with nine men.

The victory moves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side level on 44 points with leaders Manchester City although United have played two more games, with City travelling to Burnley on Wednesday.

LONDON — Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes has dismissed speculation that she might move to men's professional side AFC Wimbledon, saying it would be no step up and they could not afford her wages anyway.

Wimbledon are 21st of 24 in League One, the third tier of English soccer, while Chelsea are at the peak of the women's game — Super League champions whose players have won the highest honors.