The Premier League has made a contentious appointment for this weekend's high-stakes fixture, selecting John Brooks to officiate Liverpool's trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The decision is likely to raise eyebrows at Anfield, given the referee's notable history of controversial moments involving the Reds.
A History of Controversy with Liverpool
John Brooks was the official who sent off Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk during the Reds' visit to Newcastle United in August 2023. Van Dijk was shown a straight red card for denying Alexander Isak a clear goalscoring opportunity. The defender's refusal to leave the pitch promptly and subsequent argument with Brooks and fourth official Craig Pawson resulted in an extended ban and a £100,000 fine from the FA.
Despite playing with ten men for over an hour, Liverpool famously won that match 2-1 thanks to a Darwin Nunez brace from the bench. Brooks was later removed from VAR duties for fixtures involving Liverpool and Arsenal in February 2024 after a disputed decision to disallow a Brighton goal.
Recent Encounters and VAR Scrutiny
Since those incidents, Brooks has taken charge of four Liverpool matches. The most recent was the 2-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea in October 2024, a game where manager Arne Slot publicly questioned several of the referee's decisions.
For the upcoming Tottenham match, Anthony Taylor will serve as the fourth official, while Stuart Attwell will be the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Attwell's own appointment adds another layer of scrutiny, as he was involved in a recent Liverpool match where a contentious decision was made.
Last month, during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Attwell opted not to send off Amadou Onana after the Villa player appeared to grab Alexis Mac Allister by the throat. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher later commented on Sky Sports that the officials did not deem the act violent enough for a red card.
High Stakes in North London
Saturday's match is crucial for both sides. Liverpool are aiming to build momentum with consecutive wins following recent draws against Sunderland and Leeds United. Tottenham, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest last Sunday, a result that leaves them with an even record of six wins and six losses in the league this season.
The fixture also revives memories of a previous encounter involving Attwell. During a League Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham in January 2022, he frustrated Liverpool by not sending off Lucas Bergvall for a second bookable offence just moments before the player scored the winning goal.
With key points on the line and a history of disputed calls, all eyes will be on the officiating team as much as the players when these two Premier League giants meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
