John Brooks Named Referee for Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool vs. Newcastle

John Brooks has been appointed as the referee for the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle, set for March 16. This will be Brooks' second match officiating a game between these teams, having previously sent off Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during a Premier League clash in August 2023, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Liverpool despite them playing with 10 men. Both teams are aiming for a significant victory, with Liverpool looking for a record-extending 11th League Cup win. The officiating team includes assistant referees Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh, fourth official Darren England, and VAR Stuart Attwell. This appointment comes amid scrutiny of Brooks given his controversial history with Liverpool and recent officiating decisions. In other news, Michael Oliver will not officiate in the Premier League this weekend after facing criticism for his handling of a head injury incident in a recent FA Cup match.