Ref John Brooks confirmed for Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle

The EFL has confirmed that John Brooks was appointed as the referee for the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle.

Brooks takes the lead on the collision in Wembley on Sunday, with Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh mentioned as his assistants.

Darren England will be the fourth official, with Stuart Attwell and Sian Massey-elis who serve as VAR and assistant-var for the competition.

Referee Brooks has previously taken the lead on one match between Liverpool and Newcastle, with Attwell also serving as VAR.

The Reds emerged in August 2023 as 2-1 winners in St James' Park, even though they were reduced to 10 men.

Brooks sent Virgil van Dijk for the denial of a chance of goal after the Liverpool captain Alexander Isak of Newcastle had contaminated.

Liverpool, who was 1-0 behind when Van Dijk got his mars orders, came back to win thanks to two late goals from replacement Darwin Nunez.

Van Dijk visibly returned with Brooks over the red card, which was confirmed to have been the right decision.

The Liverpool skipper received a ban from one match because of the red card and later received a suspension of one competition and was fined £ 100,000 for the use of offensive and offensive words for the officials.

Van Dijk seemed to label an 'F *** ING joke' and took the time to leave the field. He admitted the accusation of 'acting in an incorrect way and used offensive and offensive words for a competition officer'.

Brooks has since taken the lead on four Liverpool matches, but only one this season -their 2-1 victory over Chelsea in October.

He was the man in the middle for the first stage of the semi -final victory of Newcastle over Arsenal in the Emirates in January.

This season Brooks has supervised 12 games in the Premier League and shows 67 yellow cards, but the civil servant still has to wave a red.

Liverpool will be looking for a first trophy under Arne Slot, where the Premier League leaders offer for a record-expanding 11th League Cup.

Newcastle will be looking for their first silverware since 1955 in Wembley on Sunday.