Liverpool host Manchester City in an eagerly-anticipated Premier League clash on Sunday at 4:30pm. Chris Kavanagh has been tasked with refereeing the Anfield battle.
No one will be focusing on the football in this game. It is Man City’s first match since being found guilty of 114 charges relating to the Premier League’s financial rules. But the Citizens will be hoping to keep things going on the pitch, still perfect after five matches. Liverpool, meanwhile, are also unbeaten with two wins and three draws so far in the league.
This will be the fourth time Kavanagh has refereed a fixture between Liverpool and Man City, and the second-such meeting at Anfield. Kavanagh was the man in the middle for Man City’s 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Etihad last season.
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Chris Kavanagh’s Liverpool record
This will be Kavanagh’s 33rd Liverpool game as referee, only officiating Newcastle United (36) more. The Reds have won 19 of those games, but they have also lost seven with six draws. He’s called the matches pretty down the middle, with three penalties for and against Liverpool. Kavanagh was the man in the middle for Liverpool’s 2023/24 Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea but also saw them losing the Community Shield to Crystal Palace. Kavanagh oversaw nine games in total last season, with Liverpool winning three, drawing three and losing three.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches | 32 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Draws | 6 |
| Defeats | 7 |
| League points | 59 |
| Penalties per game | 0.09 |
| Yellow cards per game | 1.38 |
| Red cards per game | 0 |
What happened when Chris Kavanagh last refereed Liverpool?
Kavanagh was the refere for Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa in May, their penultimate game of the 2025/26 season. There wasn’t much action for Kavanagh, with four yellow cards — three for Aston Villa. That was reflective in the fouls, with Aston Villa committing 12 to Liverpool’s nine.
Chris Kavanagh’s Man City record
Kavanagh has only refereed Man City 17 times so far, the least of the so-called Big Six clubs. But Man City have a good record with Kavanagh in the middle. They’ve won 11 of the 17 games with three draws and three defeats, and four penalties going their way. That’s compared to just one penalty against them. But that penalty did come against Liverpool, in the Reds’ 2-0 win at Anfield in December 2024. Man City have won their past three games with Kavanagh as referee, starting with a win over Liverpool.
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches | 17 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Defeats | 3 |
| League points | 33 |
| Penalties per game | 0.24 |
| Yellow cards per game | 1.76 |
| Red cards per game | 0 |
What happened when Chris Kavanagh last refereed Man City?
Kavanagh showed four yellow cards in his last Man City game, against Chelsea last season. Three of those went to the Blues, with two for dissent. Man City were only punished for one foul by Antoine Semenyo, despite committing 15.
What should we expect from Chris Kavanagh?
Kavanagh has been quick to show a card this season, with 15 across his three Premier League games so far. That includes a red card in his last game, sending off Axel Disasi in Crystal Palace’s 3-2 defeat to Ipswich Town before the international break.