Manchester United's trip to Liverpool this weekend will be officiated by Martin Atkinson, report the Manchester Evening News.

Jose Mourinho takes his United side to Anfield for the Saturday lunch time kick off, looking to extend the seven point advantage over Jurgen Klopp's men and keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the league table.

And Atkinson, who has aroused the ire of both sets of supporters before, will be the man in the middle for the crucial clash.

The Bradford official refereed United's opening game of the season against West Ham, but Reds supporters will remember him for botched decisions in fixtures against Chelsea.

He failed to send off David Luiz for a high boot on Marouane Fellaini during the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season, while Sir Alex Ferguson slammed Atkinson's performance at Chelsea in 2011, claiming it was the third consecutive time that refereeing decisions had cost United against their London rivals.

Referee Martin Atkinson (
Image:
Plumb Images)

Speaking after Atkinson again failed to send off David Luiz, he said: "You hope you get a really strong referee in games like this.

“It was a major game for both clubs and you want a fair referee. You want a strong referee anyway and we didn’t get that.

“I don’t know why he’s got the game. I must say that when I saw who was refereeing it, I feared the worst.”

However, Atkinson was the man in charge for United's 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield in 2015, when he correctly sent off Steven Gerrard just 38 seconds after the midfielder had come on as a sub.

Juan Mata scored twice on a special afternoon for United.

Eric Bailly being booked by Atkinson earlier this season (
Image:
REUTERS)

Liverpool fans aren't happy with the appointment, given that Atkinson has reffed three games between United and their Merseyside rivals and it is United who have won each match.

Atkinson was also the referee for both Manchester derby victories in 2009/10 which were both won in stoppage time - the first by Michael Owen in a 4-3 thriller at Old Trafford, and the return by Paul Scholes with a stoppage time header.

He also reffed the 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium in 2012, when Robin van Persie's last-minute free kick secured all three points in the Dutchman's first Manchester derby.