Anfield welcomes Michael Oliver for the first time in his short refereeing career as we face Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup.

The 23-year old from Ashington in Northumberland is the youngest-ever referee in the Football League. He follows in his father's footsteps Clive. In fact three seasons ago both father and son officiated in the same game as Rotherham United defeated Port Vale 3-1 in the Carling Cup with Michael running the line. The next season both father and son were refereeing games in the Football League.

At the age of 21 he became the youngest-ever referee in the Football League on 10th March 2007 as a Paul Bolland goal was enough to give Grimsby Town the points at Hereford United. The same season he ended up refereeing at Wembley as Morcambe beat Exeter City in the Conference Play-Off Final.

Michael has had a meteoric rise to the top having refereed his first game only 9 years ago at the age of 14!. During the summer he had an interview to become a Premiership referee this season but was unsuccessful, and if the majority of refereeing websites are to believed that hiccup is only delaying the inevitable as many believe he is on the way to the top.
The powers that be are obviously testing him this season by giving him some high profile games at Premiership games in the cup. In the previous round he refereed Blackburn Rovers' 4-1 win against Grimsby Town.

At the weekend he was fourth official for the North East derby between Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

His assistants are David Unsworth and Tony Horton with Scott Mathieson as the fourth official.