Liverpool and Manchester City once again lock horns this weekend but unlike in recent seasons, the two meet under different circumstances.
The Reds travel to the Etihad Stadium for Saturday's early kick-off looking to apply pressure on Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the race for the Champions League. City, meanwhile, are looking to turn the heat up on table-topping Arsenal.
As it is the Gunners, and not Liverpool, who this season look like the only side capable of stopping Pep Guardiola's team from winning the Premier League again.
So who will take charge of what is always one of the most anticipated games of the season?
Manchester City vs Liverpool referee
The Premier League appointments confirmed that Simon Hooper will be the man in the middle for Saturday's clash.
Adrian Holmes and Simon Long will be on the sidelines as assistant referees with Graham Scott separating both dugouts as the fourth official. At Stockley Park, John Brooks will be overseeing the action and potential talking points alongside Matthew Wilkes as the assistant VAR.
It won't be the first time this season that Hooper has taken charge of a City or a Liverpool game. In September, he was forced to apologise to Reds legend Steven Gerrard after denying Villa a winning goal against the Manchester side.
Erling Haaland's 10th goal of the season was cancelled out by Leon Bailey's strike before another Liverpool old boy, Philippe Coutinho, momentarily sent Villa Park into raptures before the flag was raised. However, VAR showed afterwards that the Brazilian playmaker was not infringing and the match finished 1-1.
Speaking after the game, Gerrard said: "I’ve spoken to the officials - calmly - after the game. I’ve given them enough time before speaking to them and asked for their side of it.
"Listen, I always try to understand their side of things. The referee has blown his whistle too soon. I know there’s a slight rule change in not waiting too long before these whistles and flags.
"I understand that. But I think that when it’s so tight, it’s worth that little bit of extra time. We could have scored a second goal tonight.
"Obviously that moment and that decision has gone against us but fair play to the officials, they’ve recognised that in the room afterwards. They recognised they were too quick to whistle.
"If you make a mistake, you own up to it. I think the officials are beginning to understand that they have to give us a reason. I’m not going to sit here and criticise but that one went against us."
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