Referee Appointment Sparks Controversy Ahead Of Man City Vs Liverpool Clash

‎Pep Guardiola’s in-form Manchester City will welcome a revived Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon for one of the standout Premier League clashes of the season.

‎Though neither side currently tops the table with Arsenal leading the pack both remain firmly in the title chase, and victory here could prove important in shaping the campaign.

‎City entered the encounter full of confidence after demolishing Borussia Dortmund 4-1 in the Champions League.

‎Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s Liverpool appear to have rediscovered their rhythm, following up a difficult stretch of six losses in seven games with two impressive wins a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa and a 1-0 triumph against Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid.

‎Ahead of this blockbuster match, the PGMOL has confirmed Chris Kavanagh as the match referee, with Michael Oliver overseeing proceedings from the VAR booth.

‎Let’s take a closer look at their records and what both sets of fans can expect.

‎Chris Kavanagh as the referee

‎Chris Kavanagh, who began officiating in the Premier League in April 2017, will take charge of another high-stakes fixture on Sunday. Over the years, he has earned a reputation as a composed referee capable of handling intense, pressure-filled environments.

‎His résumé includes the 2021 Championship playoff final between Brentford and Swansea City, as well as the 2024 EFL Cup final where Liverpool defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley.

‎Interestingly, Kavanagh is no stranger to this specific fixture. He has officiated matches between Manchester City and Liverpool in each of the past two seasons: a 1-1 draw at the Etihad in 2023-24 and Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Anfield in 2024-25.

‎Sunday’s appointment marks his latest involvement in what has become one of English football’s modern rivalries.

‎Kavanagh’s Record with Manchester City

‎Manchester City have featured in 15 matches under Kavanagh’s supervision 14 in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup. Of those, City have won eight, drawn four, and lost three. This will be the first time the 40-year-old has officiated a City game in the 2025-26 season.

‎The most recent City fixture under his control came on March 8, when Nottingham Forest stunned the then-champions 1-0 at the City Ground.

‎Despite his frequent oversight, Kavanagh has never issued a red card to a Manchester City player, though he has shown 24 yellow cards, with a notable trend 17 of them have come when City were playing away from home.

‎One memorable moment involving Kavanagh and City came in October 2024. After initially disallowing John Stones’s 95th-minute winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers for offside, Kavanagh reviewed the pitchside monitor and controversially overturned the call, determining that Bernardo Silva was not obstructing goalkeeper José Sá’s view.

‎The decision stood sparking debate but ultimately secured City the win.

‎Kavanagh’s Record with Liverpool

‎Liverpool has a lengthier history with Kavanagh, having played 27 matches under his officiating nearly double that of City. The Reds’ record is impressive: 17 wins, four draws, and six defeats.

‎Kavanagh last took charge of Liverpool in September, during their 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park a defeat that sparked a run of six losses in seven matches. Some fans might view him as a bit of a bad-luck omen for that reason.

‎Like with City, Kavanagh has never shown a red card to a Liverpool player, but his yellow card count is higher: 40 in total, including three in this year’s Community Shield. That match saw him award a contentious penalty against Virgil van Dijk as Palace won 3-2 in a shootout.

‎Liverpool supporters will also remember Kavanagh’s presence in the 2023-24 EFL Cup final, Jürgen Klopp’s last trophy in charge, where Van Dijk had a goal ruled out for offside after Wataru Endo was judged to be obstructing the Chelsea defence.

‎That decision, though technically correct, remains a talking point among Reds fans.

‎Michael Oliver on VAR Duty

‎Supporting Kavanagh from Stockley Park will be Michael Oliver, one of England’s most experienced referees and a figure who has courted his share of controversy with both clubs.

‎City fans may not be thrilled with his appointment. Their only defeat in their last 13 matches, a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, came after Oliver mistakenly awarded a corner that led directly to Matty Cash’s winning goal.

‎Liverpool’s recent experiences with Oliver have also been eventful. In the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park earlier this year, he issued red cards to both managers, Arne Slot and his assistant Spike Hulshoff, along with sending off Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré.

‎That game ended 2-2 after James Tarkowski scored a 98th-minute equaliser, and Slot publicly accused Oliver of costing his side vital points in the title race.

‎Despite those incidents, the statistics tell a different story. With Oliver as VAR, Manchester City have won four and lost two matches.

‎He has awarded one penalty to City and one against them.

‎Liverpool, on the other hand, has won eight and lost only once in nine games with Oliver in the booth, earning two penalties and conceding two.