Michael Oliver: who is the referee for Liverpool vs Arsenal?

Following the November international break, the Premier League returns on Saturday with a heavyweight clash at Anfield, as Liverpool host Mikel Arteta’s in-form Arsenal on matchday 12 of the 2021/22 season.

While fourth-placed Liverpool saw their 25-game unbeaten run come to an end in defeat to West Ham United last time out, the Gunners continued their recovery from a nightmare start to the league campaign, beating Watford to go fifth, two points off the Reds.

Since losing their first three games of the season, the North Londoners have taken 20 points from a possible 24.

Check out our more in-depth preview of Liverpool vs Arsenal

Who is the referee for Liverpool vs Arsenal?

Michael Oliver, 36, will take charge of the match at Anfield. A Premier League referee since 2010, a FIFA international referee since 2012 and a UEFA elite official since 2018, he was also the man in the middle for the stand-out fixture during the last round of English top-flight matches, overseeing Manchester City’s 2-0 derby win over Manchester United on 6 November.

Another big-game assignment handed to Oliver this season was City’s 1-0 Premier League victory at European champions Chelsea in late September.

During his career, Oliver has refereed two FA Cup finals - Leicester’s 1-0 win over Chelsea this year, and Chelsea’s 1-0 triumph over Manchester United in 2018 - and has been appointed to one EFL Cup final, Manchester City’s penalty-shootout victory over Liverpool in 2016.

A referee with 21 games of Champions League experience, Oliver memorably sent off Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for dissent in the quarter-final of the competition in 2018, after awarding Real Madrid a controversial, decisive late penalty in the teams’ second leg at the Bernabéu. Speaking post-match, a fuming Buffon accused Oliver of having "a rubbish bin where his heart should be".

In international football, the Englishman made his debut at a major tournament at Euro 2020 in the summer, taking charge of three games, including Spain’s quarter-final win against Switzerland.

Oliver was in action during November's international week, showing a red card to Jukka Raitala in the first half as Finland overcame the defender's dismissal to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 in World Cup qualifying in Zenica last Saturday.

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Liverpool vs Arsenal: times, how to watch

Liverpool vs Arsenal kicks off at Anfield at 5:30pm local time (GMT) on Saturday. In the US, that’s 12:30 pm ET and 9:30am PT.

Viewers in the US will be able to watch the game on the following TV channels and online services: Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC Sports App, nbcsports.com, Telemundo, NBCSN.

Liverpool vs Arsenal: live with AS USA

You can also follow live-text coverage of Liverpool vs Arsenal with AS USA. We'll bring you all the team news ahead of kick-off, then give you a blow-by-blow account of the action as it happens on Merseyside.