Peter Walton of Northampton will referee his fourth Liverpool game of the season as we travel to the midlands to face Birmingham City

He started his refereeing career in the local Northampton leagues in 1986, and in only 7 years he was running the line as a Football League Assistant. After only one season he was promoted to a Premiership Assistant Referee and then a FIFA assistant two years later in 1996. In the same year he was on the line in the FA Cup Final as Manchester United beat us 1-0, and followed that up by being an assistant in the European Championships.

He was promoted to a Football League referee in 1998 and spent five seasons there before getting the call to the Premiership. His first Premiership game was one of the Premierships better games, as Wolverhampton Wanderers turned over a 3-0 half time deficit at Molineux to win 4-3 against Leicester City.

His previous three Liverpool games this season have all ended up with wins, however all the games were at Anfield. A 2-1 win against Cardiff City and a 5-0 win against Luton Town in both domestic cups, and a 3-0 Premiership win against Newcastle United. Overall our record with Peter in charge is impressive with 6 wins from 7 games, only Portsmouth ruin that record with a 2-1 win at Fratton Park at exactly the same stage last season with three games to go.

He has refereed Birmingham City twice this season, a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford on New Years' Day, and a 1-1 draw at home against Derby County in February.

His assistants for the game are Guy Beale and Paul Norman with Lee Mason as the fourth official.

Some memorable matches involving Liverpool and Peter Walton.

19th November 2005 - Crouch misses a penalty in Liverpool's 3-0 home win against Portsmouth. Djibril Cisse finds the net for the last time at Anfield.

25th October 2006 - Liverpool beat Reading 4-3 in the Carling Cup. Paletta and Peltier make their full debuts, Smith and Guthrie make their first Liverpool appearance. Paletta scores his only Liverpool goal in the win.

7th April 2007 - Arbeloa scores his first Liverpool goal in a 2-1 win at Reading.

16th January 2008 - Jamie Carragher is captain for his 500th appearance as Luton are dispatched from the FA Cup 5-0.