---
title: "Virals: Match officials confirmed as Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virals-match-officials-confirmed-as-liverpool-welcome-chelsea-to-anfield/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-08-25T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-08-25T07:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Match officials confirmed as Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/08/24/virals-liverpool-scouts-spotted-watching-mikkel-damsgaard/) are preparing for their first clash with a fellow title hopeful on Saturday when Chelsea head to Anfield.

The Reds are hopeful of mounting a Premier League charge having [given up their crown](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/04/jurgen-klopp-admits-liverpool-are-not-title-contenders-after-brighton-defeat) all too easily last season.

Meanwhile, current UEFA Champions League holders Chelsea are a whole new animal under Thomas Tuchel and will be looking at [new signing Romelu Lukaku](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12375524/romelu-lukaku-chelsea-break-club-transfer-record-to-re-sign-striker-from-inter-milan-for-97-5m) to fire them towards the pinnacle of English football.

On Saturday, [Anthony Taylor](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/02/10/liverpool-fans-react-to-refereeing-appointments-for-leicester-clash/) from Manchester will take charge whilst Chris Kavanagh will be on VAR duty at Stockley Park.

The appointments were confirmed by the [Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/news/2230095) and cited by top-flight ex-referee [Chris Foy](https://twitter.com/ChrisJFoy) on Twitter.

> Twitter: Match officials for Matchweek 3 ⁦⁦@premierleague⁩ #PLFans https://t.co/H0ObfFHdLD (@ChrisJFoy)

Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp found himself in the outspoken minority last weekend when [discussing](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58293478) the new more lenient approach to officiating.

The German received criticism for the comments, not dissimilar to the reaction when [speaking out against 12:30 kickoffs](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8985899/History-shows-Jurgen-Klopp-worried-12-30pm-kick-Wednesday-night-match.html) for Champions League participants – something that has now come to pass.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

So far the standard of officiating and in particular the use of VAR has seemed [less controversial](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/referees-striking-right-balance-by-letting-games-flow-but-penalising-reckless-fouls-5p93n8l0m) than at times last season.

Albeit only two weeks in and still far from perfect – as a [Mohamed Salah disallowed goal](https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-reactions-liverpool-fans-furious-with-salah-var-decision-after-bruno-call-20210821) will testify for – there is hope referees may have less impact on matches this term.

As two potential juggernauts collide on [Saturday night](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/match/2021-22/men/fixtures-and-results), Liverpool will be hoping it’s their football that takes the headlines and not Chelsea or the officials.