The Wirral referee Mike Dean will officiate the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park next Monday – his first assignment involving Everton or Liverpool for more than a decade.
Dean is a member of the Cheshire FA and does not support Everton or Liverpool but was removed from FA Cup final duties in 2006 when the Anfield club played West Ham United. At the time, the Football Association said: “The fact he is from the Wirral might lead to comment and debate which could place him under undue additional pressure.” He took charge of the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City two years later.
Dean, 48, has only officiated one Liverpool game in his career – a League Cup tie against Sheffield United in 2003 – and two Everton matches, the last against Wigan Athletic in January 2006.
So far this season the referee has taken charge of 14 matches, issuing 63 yellow cards and three red cards.
