Liverpool host Southampton at Anfield on Saturday in their one and only Premier League match this month
Liverpool will have referee Lewis Smith officiate a Premier League match involving them for the first time when they play Southampton this weekend.
Smith, 31, will be in the middle of a top-flight match for just the fifth time this weekend. However, it will not be his first refereeing experience at Anfield after already doing so earlier this year when Liverpool faced Accrington Stanley in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Reds won 4-0 on that occasion, with Smith only showing one yellow card to Accrington midfielder Alex Henderson during the match. However, VAR was not in operation at that stage of the competition.
It will be this weekend, though, with video assistant referee Matt Donohue on the game alongside Derek Eaton as assistant VAR. The assistant referees will be Mat Wilkes and Marc Perry, with Tony Harrington as the fourth official.
A notable omission from the match official appointments is Michael Oliver. After refereeing Crystal Palace versus Millwall in the fifth round of the FA Cup, he appears to have the weekend off.
A head-high challenge from visiting goalkeeper Liam Roberts that saw Jean-Philippe Mateta kicked in the head overshadowed that tie. Palace later confirmed their striker received specialist treatment and 25 stitches to a severe laceration to his left ear at St George’s Hospital after being stretchered off and given oxygen.
Oliver did not stop play straightaway despite the head injury and only showed a red card after being advised by VAR to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. A weekend off will now follow for the referee.
However, he is in action this midweek, though. Oliver is due to be the only English official refereeing in Uefa competitions as he takes charge of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
