Slovak FIFA referee Ivan Kruzliak has been appointed to officiate the upcoming UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool and Garabagh. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the 41-year-old official will be the head referee for the league phase encounter taking place at Anfield.
Kruzliak is a familiar face for the Azerbaijani champions, having previously officiated their matches. In August 2025, he was the man in charge when Garabagh secured a narrow victory against Shkendiya in North Macedonia during the first leg of the third qualifying round. His experience with Azerbaijani football also includes officiating the national team's friendly against Qatar in 2021 and Gabala's 2-2 draw against Panathinaikos in the 2015 UEFA Europa League playoffs.
The match is part of the eighth round of the newly formatted UEFA Champions League league phase, where Garabagh represents Azerbaijan on Europe's biggest club stage. The confrontation between the English Premier League giants and the Azerbaijani side is scheduled for the night of January 28-29, with kickoff set for 00:00 Baku time. This season marks a significant milestone for Garabagh as they continue to compete against Europe's elite, further solidifying their reputation as a consistent participant in continental competitions.
