Martin Atkinson has been appointed as the referee for Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Liverpool this weekend, the Premier League has confirmed.
Ref Watch
The 48-year-old has, thus far, refereed two Spurs games this season and the appointment could well be something of a boost.
Indeed, while the north London club have not won a game that Atkinson has officiated this season, drawing 1-1 with Everton and 2-2 with Arsenal, they have not lost either.
In both games, Tottenham surrendered a lead, with Son Heung-Min sent off in the former. Spurs were awarded a penalty in the north London derby, however.
Atkinson refereed five games involving the club last season; Spurs beat Newcastle United, West Ham United and Chelsea but they lost to the Blues on penalties in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, while they were also beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in the league.
The Reds’ record under Atkinson is excellent, too; he has been in the middle for 10 of their games since the start of the 2018/19 season; they have won five and drawn four, against Manchester City, Leicester City, Everton and Manchester United, while they lost the Community Shield encounter with Manchester City.
The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 - how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?
Take a draw
If this is any sort of omen, one has to believe that Spurs would love to take a point off the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have not lost in the league this season and have drawn just once, with Manchester United.
They have been on an 11-game winning run in the top-flight since their draw with the Red Devils and Spurs, at this point, are depleted.
Striker Harry Kane is injured, as is Moussa Sissoko, while the Daily Telegraph reports that there are doubts over the fitness of Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele.
If Spurs are able to take a point away from the encounter, as they have done in their last two outings with Atkinson as the referee, they will surely be counting their lucky stars.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has made a massive transfer demand.