The Premier League has confirmed that Darren England will be the referee at Anfield, and his track record has already sparked debate among Reds supporters.
📊 The worrying stat: England has officiated Everton on 11 occasions, with the Toffees losing only once under his watch. In sharp contrast, Liverpool’s results when he’s been in the middle don’t inspire much confidence — just one win in five league matches. That single victory came in February against Bournemouth, while the others include a heavy loss to Brighton and frustrating draws with Crystal Palace and Southampton.
For many Liverpool fans, England’s name brings back bad memories, particularly the infamous VAR controversy at Tottenham when a legitimate Luis Díaz goal was incorrectly ruled out — one of the most talked-about refereeing blunders in recent years.
Adding to the concerns, John Brooks will oversee VAR for the derby. Brooks, too, has a history with Liverpool after missing two clear fouls on Mohamed Salah against Chelsea last season, incidents that left Arne Slot visibly furious on the touchline.
With England set to be assisted by Lee Betts and Scott Ledger, and Bobby Madley acting as fourth official, Saturday’s officiating team is already under scrutiny before the first whistle.
🔴 For context: under Darren England, Liverpool’s Premier League record stands at 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 defeat — only 7 points collected from a possible 15.
As one of the season’s most high-stakes fixtures approaches, supporters can only hope the spotlight remains on the players and not the referees.
Leave a Reply