Carabao Cup final referee confirmed as Liverpool reunite with official who made penalty error
Chris Kavanagh has been appointed as the referee for Liverpool's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.
The Reds take on the Londoners in a repeat of the League Cup and FA Cup finals from the 2022 season, when Jurgen Klopp's side chased down the quadruple. Liverpool ran out winners both times via the lottery of penalties with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and Kostas Tsimikas scoring the decisive spot-kicks at Wembley.
Klopp will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the encounter after the vice-captain aggravated the knee injury, that he suffered against Arsenal in the FA Cup, which forced him to sit out of three matches. The German tactician will be hoping to begin his final stretch as Liverpool manager with a piece of silverware before he steps down at the end of the season.
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Kavanagh will be assisted by Mark Scholes and James Mainwaring with John Brooks on VAR - accompanied by Marc Percy. The Reds reacquaint with the 38-year-old official for the first time since their 1-1 draw with Arsenal in December.
The Manchester-born official came under the spotlight after he waved away Liverpool's protests for a penalty, despite evidence showing Martin Odegaard handling the ball as he went to ground. Prior to that, he was in charge of another intense Reds tussle when they earned a point against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Although Kavanagh was the match referee on the night at Anfield, he wasn't supported by the officials in Stockley Park, who determined that no clear and obvious mistake had been made. However, PGMOL chief Howard Webb admitted that the correct decision wasn't made
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