Salah and Slot will be devastated after the Carabao Cup final referee is confirmed.

Liverpool fans are unlikely to be pleased with any referee being appointed for their matches, but Arne Slot and Mo Salah may be particularly frustrated by the latest news.

The Reds are set to compete in the Carabao Cup final this month, and it has now been confirmed (via efl.com) that John Brooks will officiate the match.

Brooks previously missed two blatant fouls on Mo Salah during Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea at Anfield this season—incidents that occurred back-to-back. Instead of booking Levi Colwill and awarding a penalty, both fouls were inexplicably overlooked.

In the same game, head coach Arne Slot lost his temper when a foul was given against Darwin Núñez—an outburst that quickly became a meme and marked one of the first instances of the Dutchman showing frustration with English officiating.

Now, Slot will have to face John Brooks again in the final.

The rest of the match officials are as follows:

Assistant Referees: Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh

Fourth Official: Darren England

Reserve Assistant Referee: Steve Meredith

VAR: Stuart Attwell

AVAR: Sian Massey-Ellis

Given the inconsistency of officiating, it’s hard to feel confident about any of these names. Liverpool will need to ensure they beat Newcastle on merit, possibly expecting a major refereeing error along the way.

Before Wembley, the Reds must navigate two Champions League ties and a match against Southampton. However, the Carabao Cup final is likely to be March’s standout fixture.

Hopefully, Liverpool can secure statement victories in all four games and maintain their momentum across three competitions.