Howard Webb has been appointed as the official referee Manchester United's clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford

Referee Howard Webb has been appointed as the official for Sunday’s explosive match between Manchester United and Liverpool in a move that is sure to provoke a reaction on Merseyside.

The No 1 English referee, who was the man in the middle for the most recent World Cup final, was heavily criticised for his management of a recent clash in January 2011.

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel posted this picture on Twitter of Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt after he awarded a penalty against Liverpool and sent off Steven Gerrard during FA Cup tie.

Man in the middle: Howard Webb will take charge of the Manchester United v Liverpool game on Sunday

Controversy: The picture that Ryan Babel posted of Webb in a Manchester United shirt - he was fined

OFFICIAL LINE:

Howard Webb, as the No 1 referee as ranked by UEFA, FIFA and the Premier League is a natural selection for the Manchester United Liverpool match this weekend.
He was selected for the World Cup final and the Champions League, so it is hard to argue with those credentials. 

In appointing Webb, referee chief Mike Riley is covered, in that even if the game goes badly, he can say 'well I appointed the No 1 referee'.
There will have been no consideration to the scandalous internet rumours of Webb being a United fan.

He is of course a United fan, but the United in question are Rotherham, not Manchester.

Babel has became the first professional footballer to be censured for comments made on the social networking site Twitter after the FA fined him £10,000 for posting a mocked-up picture of Webb wearing a United shirt.

The Dutch international pleaded guilty to a charge of improper conduct at an FA hearing at Wembley. As well as the fine, Babel was warned as to his future conduct for posting the picture and criticising Webb’s performance in Liverpool’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford in January 2011. He wrote: “And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke. SMH [shaking my head].

In May last year City supporters were furious that Howard Webb was put in charge of a crucial clash at Newcastle.

They have long accused the South Yorkshire official of favouring arch-rivals Manchester United.