The appointments for Premier League Matchweek 25 have been confirmed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), setting the stage for a critical round of fixtures from February 6th to 8th.
The selections place several of the division’s most experienced officials at the heart of pivotal matches, including the headline clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.
That marquee fixture at Anfield will be overseen by referee Craig Pawson, assisted by Tim Wood and Mat Wilkes, with Tim Robinson serving as the fourth official.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties for this top-of-the-table encounter have been assigned to John Brooks, who will be supported by assistant VAR Blake Antrobus.
The significance of the match is reflected in the appointment of Brooks, who has shown a willingness to make definitive calls, having issued three red cards this season, tying him for the most in the league.
He is part of a select group of twenty full-time professional referees managed by the PGMOL, an organization responsible for the training and development of match officials across English football.
Other high-profile matches feature similarly notable appointments.
The showdown between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will be managed by Michael Oliver, one of the league’s most active referees with 19 games to his name this campaign.
He will be supported by assistants Stuart Burt and Nick Greenhalgh, with Paul Tierney as the VAR.
Meanwhile, the encounter between Bournemouth and Aston Villa falls to Anthony Taylor, who shares the season’s game-load lead with Oliver and also leads the league in yellow cards issued with 72.
The weekend’s full slate of officials demonstrates the PGMOL’s structured approach to managing a demanding schedule. The match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest will be refereed by Peter Bankes, who has officiated 15 games and shown three red cards this season.
Arsenal’s fixture against Sunderland is entrusted to Sam Barrott, while Stuart Attwell, another official with 15 games and 69 bookings this term, takes charge of Fulham versus Everton.
The PGMOL supports its Select Group referees with a comprehensive team of specialists, including sports scientists, performance analysts, and psychologists, aiming to ensure consistent decision-making under pressure.
With every decision under intense scrutiny, the performance of these officials and the VAR teams will be independently assessed by the Key Match Incidents Panel, a group comprising former players and coaches established to review major incidents.