Official set for dramatic Liverpool return after Andy Robertson elbow controversy
Stuart Attwell has been named as the referee for Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg against Tottenham Hotspur. Paul Tierney will also be on VAR for the Reds defence of the League Cup on January 8, weeks after the nine-goal thriller.
The last-four encounter sees Constantine Hatzidakis usher the line for the first time since he was at the centre of a storm following an alleged elbow on Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson. During the interval of the Reds' clash with Arsenal in April 2023, the Scotland international continued his protestations following a flash-point during the first-half.
The now-30-year-old was left incensed and accused the official of elbowing him in the face as the teams left the pitch for the half-time break. Hatzidakis was removed pending a review but following an FA investigation, there was no further action taken against the assistant referee.
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Since the incident, he hasn't been involved in a Reds clash and has been named as a fourth official for National League North matches in previous years. He was on the touchline for Southend's clash with Barnet at the end of December 2023 but following an injury to the assistant referee, he was forced to pick up the flag and run the line.
Attwell, meanwhile, has not officiated without controversy. During the European Championships in Germany last summer, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was left furious by the standard of officiating during Holland's goalless draw with France.
Xavi Simons saw his goal controversially chalked off, prompting an angry response from the 32-year-old after the stalemate. Van Dijk said: "A bit of a disappointment… Disappointment because we scored a goal that is a fair goal.
"He (Maignan) had no chance to get into that corner. But yeah, the English referee decided to disallow it… From what I have seen, the goal should have been allowed."
