It is the start of a new era at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime, but for Andoni Iraola, the objective remains resolutely traditional: win the home opener in his Anfield managerial debut.
Liverpool welcome Nottingham Forest to Merseyside looking to put their first victory of the Premier League campaign on the board. Having played out an end-to-end 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James’ Park last Sunday, the Reds now turn their focus to a fixture that has proven surprisingly a bananas skin in recent years.
Visitors Forest arrive under Oliver Glasner searching for early momentum after a dismal start. The City Ground side have suffered back-to-back defeats against Leeds United a 1-0 league reversal followed by a 2-0 exit in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Yet, Forest have won on their last two visits to Anfield, a record Iraola will be desperate to extinguish. Ahead of the clash, match officials have been appointed, providing Kopites with a clear picture of who will be keeping order in L4.
**The refereeing appointment**
------------------------------
Sam Barrott [will take charge of his first Liverpool fixture](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4690221/match-officials-for-matchweek-2) of the campaign on Saturday. The 33-year-old official has been part of the Select Group of referees since August 2024 and achieved FIFA listing the following year.
Barrott has already overseen four matches this season, officiating the FA Community Shield in Cardiff alongside three UEFA qualification ties taking him to Dublin, Enschede, and Klaksvík in the Faroe Islands. Across those four outings, he has brandished 14 yellow cards without issuing a red.
That controlled approach mirrors his numbers from last term. Across 33 matches in 2024/25, Barrott handed out 118 yellow cards averaging 3.58 per match and just a single red card, sent to Sunderland’s Reinildo Mandava against Aston Villa.
**Barrott’s Liverpool record**
------------------------------
Barrott is no stranger to the Reds, though his allocation last term was notably quiet. Intriguingly, he did not referee a single Liverpool match last season despite taking charge of four the previous year.
His full record officiating Liverpool reads:
**Date**
**Match**
**Result**
**Yellow Cards (Liverpool Bookings)**
**2 April 2025**
Liverpool vs Everton
1-0
4 (Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez)
**9 February 2025**
Plymouth Argyle vs Liverpool
1-0 (FA Cup)
6 (Isaac Mabaya, Trey Nyoni)
**22 December 2024**
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
3-6
3 (Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo)
**24 November 2024**
Southampton vs Liverpool
2-3
7 (Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah)
**28 January 2024**
Liverpool vs Norwich City
5-2
0
In five previous matches under Barrott’s whistle, Liverpool have won four. The sole blemish remains the shock FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park under Arne Slot.
**What it means for Iraola**
The full refereeing team for Saturday’s fixture includes:
* **Referee:** Sam Barrott
* **Assistant Referees:** Adam Nunn & Wade Smith
* **Fourth Official:** Tim Robinson
* **VAR:** Michael Oliver
* **Assistant VAR:** James Mainwaring
Barrott’s appointment suggests a official who lets the game flow rather than reaching hastily for his pocket. His low card average and reluctance to issue red cards will suit a Liverpool team looking to establish quick, fluid rhythms in front of a home crowd.
For Iraola, the focus will remain strictly on performance on the pitch. But knowing the man in the middle allows the game to play out without unnecessary micro-management will be welcome news as Anfield opens its doors for the new season.