LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 6, 2023: Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta is shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 6, 2023: Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta is shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Premier League have announced the referee and his assistants for Liverpool’s first game of the season against Newcastle.
Liverpool head to St James’ Park for their opener, having continued the trend of high-scoring encounters against the Magpies with last season’s 3-2 and 4-1 victories.
After an emotional pre-match tribute to the late, great Kevin Keegan, who was a legend at both clubs, the action should be exciting with both teams managed by new coaches.
The man tasked to keep up with play on the pitch is referee Stuart Attwell.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 26, 2023: Referee Stuart Attwell during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham won 2-0. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 26, 2023: Referee Stuart Attwell during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham won 2-0. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
He took charge of three Liverpool matches last season (two wins and one draw), and last refereed a meeting between the Reds and Newcastle in February 2025, a game Arne Slot‘s side won 2-0 at Anfield.
Meanwhile, James Bell will be the video assistant referee based in Stockley Park and will be assisted on VAR by Edward Smart.
On the sidelines, Lee Betts and Constantine Hatzidakis, the linesman who once elbowed Andy Robertson, have been appointed assistants.
In addition, Tony Harrington will be the fourth official and control things by the dugouts.
Newcastle vs. Liverpool — Match Officials
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Lee Betts
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington
VAR: James Bell
Assistant VAR: Edward Smart
Last season’s dramatic 3-2 win at Newcastle
After Alexander Isak refused to train in order to push through a move to Liverpool last summer, Newcastle hosted the Reds in a fiery early-season clash.
With the crowd up, Anthony Gordon got carried away and put in a dangerous, late tackle on Virgil van Dijk that saw him sent off in the first half.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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Despite being a man down, Newcastle battled back from 2-0 down in the second half, only for Rio Ngumoha to win the game in the dying moments.
That clinical finish under huge pressure meant Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer, aged 16 years and 361 days.
This time around he could be involved again, but as a right-winger at St James’ Park.
How Liverpool should lineup vs. Newcastle
Even if Liverpool manage to sign a winger between the time of writing and kick-off, they won’t be ready to play, meaning Ngumoha will likely play on the right while Cody Gakpo starts on the left.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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Isak will lead the line to a massive chorus of boos, with Florian Wirtz playing behind the striker.
As for the rest of Andoni Iraola‘s starting XI, Alisson will be in goal with a back four ahead of him of Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet or Ronald Araujo, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez.
Meanwhile, we expect Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai to form a midfield two.
Predicted Newcastle XI: Hornicek; Shahar, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Bamba, Ramsey; Elanga, Osula, Toure; Wissa
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak
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