Match officials confirmed for Boxing Day Villa visit | OneFootball

United host Villa in what will be their final Premier League home game of 2024, and the vastly experienced Taylor has been tasked with overseeing the contest on Tyneside.

It will be just Taylor's second game involving the Magpies so far this term. The 46-year-old was the man in the middle of Newcastle's 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest in November - one of 19 outings for Taylor in 2024/25 so far.

Last season, Taylor also took charge of Eddie Howe's side's 3-2 win at Forest, as well as the 2-2 draw at Wolves, the 4-2 defeat at Liverpool on New Year's Day and the 4-1 win at Burnley in May, before appearing at the European Championships. In one game at the tournament - Spain's 2-1 quarter-final win over Germany - he issued a remarkable 14 yellow cards, including two to Dani Carvajal.

Wythenshawe-born Taylor - a FIFA-listed official since 2013 with two FA Cup finals and a Europa League final appearance among the achievements under his belt - has refereed in the Europa League and the Champions League alongside his Premier League appointments this season.

2023/24 stats

Games (all competitions): 50

Yellow cards issued: 218

Red cards issued: 9

Assistants

Assistant referees: Ian Hussin and Neil Davies

Fourth official: Leigh Doughty

VAR: Graham Scott

Assistant VAR: Mark Scholes