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Blundering assistant Simon Beck has been axed from this weekend’s matches after the gaffe that's kept Liverpool level with Manchester City in the title race.

Beck allowed James Milner to cross for Sadio Mane to score against West Ham last Monday night — even though Milner was clearly offside when he received the ball.

West Ham struck back to earn a point, but boss Manuel Pellegrini is still angry with the official’s performance after the final whistle and the PGMOL are understood to be sympathetic to his point of view.

The draw means Liverpool and City are now both on 62 points, though the champions have the superior goal difference

(Image: Sky Sports)

Beck has been spoken to by his bosses and “given the weekend to go shopping”, according to a source.

Pellegrini said on Thursday: “I don’t include the referee because it was the linesman’s mistake. For the first goal [Milner] was one and a half metres offside but if you see the linesman he was watching the ball, not the line.”

Referring to an incident at the very end of the same match, when an offside Divock Origi was incorrectly allowed to play on, the Hammers boss was also unhappy.

(Image: EMPICS Sport)

He added: “The last play of the game, you can see the linesman is up with the line of play. It is difficult to see why he didn’t raise his flag.

“If we’d lose 2-1 it would have been unacceptable. It was one mistake and allowed them to draw. Every game is different, which means football gives you chances for revenge.

“But I’m proud of the way we played against Liverpool. If we continue this way. I will be more happy than angry.”