Staffordshire's Phil Dowd has been appointed to take charge of Sunderland's trip to Merseyside on Sunday.

Appointed to the Select Group in 2001, Dowd made his top-flight debut in December 2001 and has regularly featured at the top level ever since.

In the 31 games Dowd has refereed this season, he has shown 103 yellow cards and dismissed 4 players. 

He last took charge of Sunderland in January this year, when he refereed Sunderland's clash with Liverpool's neighbours Everton at Goodison Park.

The last game that Dowd refereed Liverpool in was their 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Championship side Reading.