Liverpool’s first home game of the season against Brentford will be officiated by familiar faces. Stuart Attwell has been appointed as the referee, while Michael Oliver will be the lead VAR. The assistant referees for the match will be Simon Bennett and Dan Robathan, with Michael Salisbury as the fourth official and Mat Wilkes as the assistant VAR.
Both Liverpool and Brentford had successful opening weekends, with Liverpool securing a 2-0 victory against Ipswich and Brentford overcoming Crystal Palace with a 2-1 win. However, Brentford’s victory was marred by a refereeing error that ruled out a goal by Eberechi Eze. Referee Sam Barrott apologized to Eze for blowing the whistle as he scored a brilliant free-kick goal. The hope for the upcoming match is that there will be less controversy surrounding the officiating.
Interestingly, Attwell was the VAR for Liverpool’s win against Ipswich, but he was unable to intervene in a contentious moment when Wes Burns deliberately handled the ball while already on a yellow card. Burns scooped the ball out of Diogo Jota’s path after a failed challenge, and referee Tim Robinson awarded a free-kick but no further punishment.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher commented on the incident, stating that it should have been considered a handball. He explained on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, “He quite clearly swipes at the ball,” and added that Burns was lucky to not receive a yellow card because another Ipswich player was coming to cover the attack.
The appointment of Attwell as the referee for Liverpool vs. Brentford adds an interesting dynamic to the match, considering his involvement in the previous game. Fans will be watching closely to see if there are any controversial decisions or if the officiating is consistent and fair.
Overall, with Attwell as the referee and Oliver as the lead VAR, Liverpool’s first home game of the season against Brentford promises to be an exciting and closely watched encounter. Both teams will be looking to build on their successful opening weekend performances and secure another victory.