Northumberland’s Michael Oliver will take charge as the two sides meet this weekend
Referee Michael Oliver has been named as the man to take charge of the clash between Manchester City and Everton at The Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The 31 year-old from Ashington has been assigned the 3pm Premier League kick-off as The Toffees look to inflict a second successive league defeat on their hosts.
Happily for Ronald Koeman‘s men, Everton have lost just once in eight games with the same official in charge.
Referee Michael Oliver
Their only defeat came back in February of this year, when West Bromwich Albion triumphed 1-0 at Goodison Park last term.
In 2010, Oliver became the youngest-ever Premier League referee when he officiated the Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers clash aged just 25 years-old.
Since then, Michael Oliver has become renowned as one of the English top-flight’s most capable referees and is seen as an individual who tries to let the course of games flow.
Referee Michael Oliver shows the red card and sends off Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater (not pictured)
He is also passive with his use of the yellow card, however is not afraid to shirk responsibility and has sent off two players in one game in the past.
That game in question was in Blackpool’s 2-1 victory over The Baggies at Bloomfield Road in 2010, during Oliver’s inaugural season.
West Brom defenders Gonzalo Jara and Pablo Ibañez were both given their marching orders.
Like all officials however, the Englishman is not immune to criticism.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa stamps on Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel’s (L) leg
Following the Football League Cup semi-final in January 2015, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hit out at Oliver for failing to punish Chelsea striker Diego Costa for two apparent stamps on Reds men Emre Can and Martin Škrtel.
After video evidence was reviewed, Costa was given a retrospective three-match ban for the first incident on the German midfielder.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
