Michael Oliver has been appointed as referee for the Manchester derby this weekend, reports BBC Sport.
Manchester United face City at The Etihad on Sunday in a game which kicks off at 2pm.
Manchester United’s record with Michael Oliver as referee
Michael Oliver’s appointment as referee is not a particularly good omen for Manchester United, the club have a poor record in matches he has officiated.
Manchester United have won only 15 of 39 matches Oliver has refereed, just 38 per cent. This involves 11 draws and 13 defeats.
City by comparison have won 36 of 48 games under Oliver, drawing four and losing eight, a 75 per cent win rate – almost exactly double United’s.
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Which Manchester United matches has Michael Oliver refereed
The one positive aspect is Oliver has refereed a game with Erik ten Hag as manager, a match Manchester United won over Liverpool last month.
This broke a streak of five consecutive matches United had played with Oliver as referee and failed to win – including last year’s 4-1 hammering at The Etihad.
United are looking for a very different result this Sunday at The Etihad – but will have to do under the same referee as last time.
Oliver has refereed a derby game on the blue side of Manchester that United once won, a 1-0 victory in 2016 under Louis van Gaal with Marcus Rashford scoring the winner.
His first ever match officiating Manchester United came in February 2011, a 2-1 win for Wolves at Molineux which broke the club’s unbeaten Premier League run that season.
He has sent off four Manchester United players; Paul Pogba, Angel di Maria, Antonio Valencia and Chris Smalling – in a derby defeat for the Red Devils at The Etihad.
Oliver also oversaw Sir Alex Ferguson’s final ever match as manager, a 5-5 draw away at West Bromwich Albion.
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