Referee on duty, legends on edge: Kovács to handle Liverpool vs Real Madrid as Anfield awaits a turning point

Referee appointment and match details

UEFA announced on Sunday that Romanian referee Stefan Kovács would take charge of the Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League meeting.

Liverpool hosts Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday in the group-stage, Week 4 of the Champions League.

UEFA appointed Kovács to oversee the game, with Mihai Marica and Verenci Tutuni as assistants, and Marcel Bersan as the fourth official.

German official Bastian Dankert will handle the video assistant referee (VAR) duties, with Vidai San Sui assisting as the VAR official on site.

Kovács, 41, has previously officiated four Real Madrid matches in the Champions League, with Madrid collecting three wins and one defeat, a 4-3 loss to Manchester City in the first leg of the 2021-22 semi-finals.

He has also refereed two Liverpool CL games, both losses for the Reds — one at Anfield against Real Madrid (5-2) and another last season against Paris Saint-Germain (0-1).

Real Madrid sit fifth in the CL group standings on 9 points, while Liverpool are tenth with 6.

Liverpool’s revival and key moments

Return of the Reds

The Dutch coach Arne Slot’s gamble paid off against Aston Villa, as Liverpool secured a 2-0 league win that rekindled hope at Anfield after a sequence of disappointing results.

According to The Athletic, the pre‑final whistle chants in support of Slot reflected the growing belief that the club is regaining its identity, especially after Ryan Gravenberch’s early second-half goal sealed the win over Villa.

What mattered most for Slot wasn’t the goals alone but the moment midway through the first half when Dominik Szoboszlai spurned a golden chance against Emiliano Martínez.

In that moment, silence or anger could have swept the stadium, yet Anfield’s fans answered with loud encouragement for their manager and team.

A banner reading “Unity is Strength” captured the spirit, and Slot afterward said, “When a club faces a tough spell and you see that support, you know you’re in a special place. This club does not forget those who work for it, and the fans always stand by the team when times are tough.”

Defense steadying up

The improvement was evident defensively, with Andy Robertson restored to a full 90 minutes in the Premier League for the first time in 11 games, delivering a composed display that kept a clean sheet for the first time in 11 matches.

Opta stats suggested Aston Villa did not carve out a clear chance, recording an expected goals figure of 0.41 for the match.

Van Dijk and Konaté looked more solid, with Robertson alongside them, and Conor Bradley showing signs of reaching full match fitness after an uneven first part of the campaign.

Thanks to resilience, Slot kept Szoboszlai in his natural midfield role rather than moving him to right-back, allowing the Hungary international to press and win back balls more consistently.

Gravenberch’s return proved a key plus, as he won six duels and scored, while Alexis Mac Allister completed a full 90 minutes for the first time in months, signaling improved physical readiness.

After four goals in his first 87 appearances for the club, Gravenberch has three in his last ten, a sign of growing influence in the latter third of the pitch.

The attack

Up front, Mohamed Salah delivered what may be his best all-round performance this season. Not only did he score for the second consecutive league game, but he also looked sharper and more in tune with his teammates, posing a constant threat to the opposition.

Salah clearly outshone the opposing full-back and notched his 250th goal for Liverpool, becoming only the third player in club history to reach the landmark after Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.

Slot praised him, saying, “It’s an exceptional achievement, and what’s more impressive is that he also helps the team defensively.”

French striker Hugo Ekitiké, despite limited touches, showed a commendable willingness to press and fight without the ball.

As the match wore on, Anfield’s stands sang Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” a symbolic moment echoing the hoped-for renaissance Klopp’s era once promised.

Now Liverpool faces a pivotal run, with real heavyweights awaiting — Real Madrid in the CL and Manchester City in the league.

Despite the challenges, Slot appears to have the confidence and cohesion to build on this victory and potentially spark a new phase of the campaign.

Punchline 1: If Kovács’s whistle ever starts a joke, the punchline lands before the joke starts — timing is everything in football and wit.

Punchline 2: Liverpool’s defense is so solid right now that even a sniper would have trouble finding the target — offside lines are safer than a pension plan.