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

Liverpool fans are unlikely to be thrilled by the confirmation of any referee for their matches, but Arne Slot and Mo Salah may be particularly disappointed by the latest announcement.

This month, the Reds will compete in the Carabao Cup final, and it has now been officially confirmed (via efl.com) that John Brooks will officiate the match.

Brooks was the same referee who failed to penalize two clear fouls on Mo Salah during Liverpool’s game against Chelsea at Anfield earlier this season—two incidents occurring in quick succession. Instead of booking Levi Colwill and awarding Liverpool a penalty, both fouls were inexplicably overlooked.

During that same match, Liverpool’s head coach lost his temper after a foul was called against Darwin Núñez—an incident that quickly became a meme and may have been one of the first signs of the Dutchman’s frustration with English officiating.

Arne Slot is unlikely to be pleased to see John Brooks in charge again. The other officials for the final include: Assistant Referees: Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh, Fourth Official: Darren England, Reserve Assistant Referee: Steve Meredith, VAR: Stuart Attwell, and AVAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.

As previously mentioned, it’s hard to imagine Liverpool fans ever being happy with a referee appointment these days, given the perceived lack of competence across the board.

Ultimately, the focus will be on beating Newcastle on merit—while also being prepared for potential officiating errors. A strong lead may be necessary to mitigate any controversial decisions.

Before the Wembley showdown, Liverpool must first navigate two Champions League fixtures and a clash with Southampton. However, the cup final is shaping up to be the marquee event in March.

Hopefully, the team can secure statement victories in all four games and continue their strong form across three different competitions.