Referee and VAR confirmed for Liverpool vs Brentford

Paul Tierney has been confirmed as the referee for Liverpool's clash with Brentford on Sunday.

The Reds take on Thomas Frank's side at Anfield, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Luton Town last time out.

The home tie against the Bees marks the last chance for Liverpool to pick up points before the next international break, after which Jurgen Klopp and co travel to title holders Manchester City for yet another early Saturday kick off.

Before that though, the Reds face the challenge of Brentford and the Premier League has now confirmed the lineup of match officials for the contest, with 42-year-old Tierney the man in the middle.

Scott Ledger and Mark Scholes will be Tierney's assistants, while Tim Robinson is the fourth official.

Meanwhile, Stuart Attwell has been confirmed as the VAR with Harry Lennard as Assistant VAR in Stockley Park.

Paul Tierney's record in Liverpool games

The appointment marks the first time Tierney will take charge of a Liverpool game since the 4-3 win over Tottenham back in April.

Klopp picked up a two-match ban – the second of which was suspended until the end of this season – for his comments after the game implying Tierney has a bias against Liverpool.

“I really don’t know what he has against us, he has said there is no problem but that cannot be true,” Klopp infamously said.

The Liverpool boss also picked up a yellow card during that fractious encounter for celebrating the Reds' late winner in the face of fourth official John Brooks.

That controversial affair was not the only time Klopp has been left incensed by Tierney.

Following a 2-2 draw with Tottenham back in December 2021, the German told Tierney: “I have no problems with any referees, only you.”

Despite Klopp's irritation with Tierney, Liverpool's record when the Wigan-born referee has been in charge is pretty good.

In 25 games, the Reds have won 13, drawn eight and only lost four.

There have been 41 yellows (1.64 per game), two reds (0.08) and two penalties (0.08) across those encounters.

Meanwhile the chosen VAR, Attwell, has also gotten on the wrong side of Klopp in recent times. The Liverpool boss criticised Attwell's performance when he refereed the Reds' 3-1 defeat to Sunday's opponents Brentford back in January of this year.

He said after that loss: "There was only one offensive foul on a set-piece tonight which was whistled and that was against us, which is really funny. Holding is holding, and pushing is pushing.

"It was more the game they wanted than the one we wanted. They could dictate it because of how it got whistled.

"The two corners they scored with, one was offside and the other one, of course we don't behave perfectly, but they stretch rules. They are really pushing, they are really holding. That's obviously what you can do.

"The third goal I can really not respect. The ref thought it wasn't a foul and then VAR hides behind the phrase 'clear and obvious'. The referee has to explain that, if anybody could ask him."

Match officials for Liverpool vs Brentford – 12/11/2023

Referee: Paul Tierney Assistants: Scott Ledger, Mark Scholes Fourth official: Tim Robinson VAR: Stuart Attwell Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard