Newcastle United take on Liverpool on Monday in what is bound to be a feisty fixture that might be difficult to referee.
It was a promising start to the season for Newcastle United after a difficult summer but they’re still looking for their first win after being held to a goalless draw by 10-man Aston Villa.
Much of the club’s woes this summer are of Liverpool’s making, as the reigning Premier League champions have unsettled Alexander Isak.
The wantaway Isak is now refusing to play for the club as he tries to force through a move, but Newcastle are maintaining they will not sell him.
Liverpool also signed top Newcastle striker target Hugo Ekitike in response to not getting Isak, which has further ignited hostilities.
St. James’ Park is bound to be a bear pit for the fixture on Monday and it could be a challenging game to officiate.
Here’s who is in charge.
Simon Hooper talks on his head set as Jorginho and Bruno Guimaraes surround him.
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Referee and officials for Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Simon Hooper will be the man in the middle for the game and it’s the second successive week he’s been given the weekend’s biggest fixture.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
Hooper took charge of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday, which was refreshingly lacking in much controversy.
Here’s the full officiating team for the match:
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official: Tony Harrington
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Steve Meredith
Hooper last took charge of Newcastle at the tail end of last season when Arsenal defeated the Magpies 1-0 in the penultimate week.
He was also the referee for Newcastle’s victory over the Gunners in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
Simon Hooper once gave three penalties in the same Newcastle fixture
Hooper has taken charge of Newcastle 23 times and he is yet to make any contentious decisions while doing so.
However, his most interesting game as an official of the Magpies came in the 2022-23 season in a game against Leeds United.
Games Wins Draws Losses Yellow cards Red cards Penalties given
23 8 6 9 45 0 5
Simon Hooper’s record refereeing Newcastle fixtures
Leeds were fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Premier League table and the match finished 2-2, the only point Sam Allardyce earned as manager in his four games in charge.
Hooper awarded three penalties in the match, two for Newcastle and one for Leeds.
The Whites got theirs first in the 28th minute with the score 1-0 when Joelinton hauled down an onrushing Junior Firpo. Patrick Bamford stepped up to double the lead but Nick Pope guessed the right way and kept it out.
Newcastle got their first three minutes later when Max Wober ploughed into Isak, with Callum Wilson making no mistake from the spot.
The third penalty came in the 69th minute and was much harsher, as Firpo’s flailing arm glanced the ball as he was falling and VAR gave it. Wilson sent this one into the roof of the net.
Leeds would level 10 minutes later through Rasmus Kristensen but the draw wasn’t enough to stop them from being relegated.