Anthony Taylor has been confirmed as the referee for Newcastle United’s Premier League game at Manchester United on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
The Magpies return to Premier League action this weekend following the international break, as they face the Red Devils – and their latest signing in Cristiano Ronaldo – at Old Trafford.
And Wythenshawe-born official Taylor has been appointed for the fixture, which will be his sixth outing of the 2021/22 season so far.
Three of those games have come in the Premier League, with the other two coming in the qualifying rounds for the Champions League – Benfica’s 2-0 win over Spartak Moscow and Shakhtar Donetsk’s 2-2 draw with Monaco.
In the domestic game, FIFA-listed Taylor has overseen Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat at Spurs, Brighton & Hove Albion’s 2-0 win over Watford and Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
In those five games, the 42-year-old has issued 23 yellow cards – including ten in Shakhtar’s draw with Monaco – and one red, to Chelsea’s Reece James at Anfield.
Last term, Taylor oversaw three Newcastle fixtures – the 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds United, the 3-0 reverse at Brighton and the 2-1 victory at Burnley before heading to the EURO 2020 finals.
He had three appointments during the tournament and Taylor – who, in 2020, became the first man in almost 120 years to referee two FA Cup finals – was the man in the middle for Denmark’s group game against Finland in which Christian Eriksen collapsed.
The referee received widespread praise for his handling of the situation following Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, with Taylor’s quick thinking and decisive action crucial in helping to get the Inter Milan midfielder immediate medical assistance.
Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn will assist Taylor on Saturday, with John Brooks named as the fourth official.
Craig Pawson will be the VAR, with Scott Ledger acting as his assistant.