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Liverpool vs Manchester United referee Martin Atkinson urged to enjoy occasion by Mike Riley

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Steven Gerrard of Liverpool is shown the red card by referee Martin Atkinson during the Barclays Premier League match betwee
Image: Referee Martin Atkinson is set to take charge of Liverpool vs Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend

Referees chief Mike Riley says it is vital Martin Atkinson finds the right balance between empathy and enjoyment in Saturday's game between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Atkinson will take charge of the lunchtime clash - live on Sky Sports Premier League - which is typically one of the Premier League's most anticipated matches of the season.

Riley, who manages the Professional Game Match Officials Board, was a top-flight referee from 1996 until he moved into his current role in 2009, and took charge of several ties between the two clubs.

Referee Martin Atkinson separates Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea (L) and Liverpool's Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel (R) during the E
Image: The last time Atkinson refereed Liverpool vs Manchester United in the Premier League in 2015 he handed out five yellow and one red card

And he believes Atkinson will need to marry a cold and clinical application of the laws of the game with an understanding of the emotion of the match if he is to have a successful afternoon at Anfield.

"The advice to the referee would be the same for that game as for the other 380 Premier League games - to use your skill set to referee it in a way that the league and the players expect," he said.

"He will have to have an empathy and an understanding of the game but it's also important to enjoy the occasion.

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"In the Premier League you're refereeing the best players in the world in the best stadiums in the world and you have to enjoy it.

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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville watch Liverpool's 3-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield from 2001 and discuss the rivalry and where United went wrong that day

"It's a really delicate balancing act to having the empathy of the game and applying the laws and that's what the skill of the referees have at this level.

"It's one of the great things about refereeing at this level, that you're doing hugely important games that are broadcast all around the world and the challenge of that is the fun part of the job."

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