The Premier League has appointed Stuart Attwell as referee for Liverpool's home match against Aston Villa at Anfield this weekend. Liverpool aim to end a run of four consecutive league defeats, while Villa seek to improve their poor record at the venue. The fixture carries added intrigue due to past controversies involving Attwell's decisions.
Liverpool will host Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday evening in a crucial Premier League encounter. The match officials were confirmed by the league, with Stuart Attwell serving as the referee. He will be assisted by Nick Hopton and Craig Taylor, while Paul Tierney handles Video Assistant Referee duties.
This appointment arrives amid ongoing scrutiny of officiating standards in the Premier League. For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, it evokes memories of a controversial incident from last season's Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur. There, Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall avoided a second yellow card for a challenge on Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas, then scored the winner while the defender received treatment. Slot described the decision as “difficult to accept” at the time.
Liverpool enter the game in poor domestic form, having suffered four straight Premier League defeats, including a 3-2 loss to Brentford last weekend. This has dropped them to seventh in the table, with a winless run dating back to 20 September. Injuries and tactical adjustments have disrupted their rhythm, though Anfield offers hope: the Reds have won six of their last seven home league matches against Aston Villa, drawing the other.
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, arrive with a bleak recent record against Liverpool. Their last victory was a memorable 7-2 win at Villa Park in October 2020. Since then, they have won just once in 15 league meetings with the Merseyside club, including no wins at Anfield.
Both teams face pressure: Liverpool to halt their slide under Slot, and Villa to make a statement away from home. Attwell's performance will likely draw close attention given the high stakes.