John Brooks to Referee Bournemouth vs. Liverpool in League Cup Fourth Round
The fourth round of the League Cup will see Bournemouth host Liverpool, with John Brooks set to referee the game. This is the same official who has been involved in controversy this season.
It’s not uncommon for an official to be appointed a game without raising eyebrows, but the introduction of VAR and its failure to be implemented properly has made it difficult for referees to avoid criticism. After the fiasco at Tottenham, Liverpool have had fewer issues in recent games.
John Brooks will be the man in the middle for Wednesday’s game at Bournemouth, his first involving Liverpool since August’s 2-1 comeback win at Newcastle. On that day, Virgil van Dijk was sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, though there was much debate over whether that was the case.
VAR Controversy at Newcastle
A lengthy VAR check followed, and Van Dijk was shown a red card and subsequently banned for two matches for his reaction. He told Brooks his decision was a “fucking joke” before an incident involving fourth official Craig Pawson before heading down the tunnel.
This wasn’t the first time Brooks has been in charge of a Liverpool game. He also refereed their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Dean Court last season and the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in May, when he overlooked a red-card challenge from Tyrone Mings that saw his studs leave an imprint on Cody Gakpo’s chest.
Van Dijk Fined £100,000
The FA handed out a £100,000 fine to Van Dijk, one of the worst in history, with the defender missing the wins over Aston Villa and Wolves due to his suspension.
Conclusion
John Brooks will be in charge of Wednesday’s game between Bournemouth and Liverpool, and it will be interesting to see how he performs after his involvement in controversy this season. With no VAR in this stage of the League Cup, it will be up to him to make the right decisions and keep the game flowing.