Confirmed Match Officials: Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon with another stern test in the chase for a UEFA Champions League spot next season.

It was a further setback and yet mot frustration for Pep Guardiola’s side last time out as they succumbed to a late Callum Hudson-Odoi winner with less than 10 minutes remaining against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

That result leaves City trailing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side by four points and bringing their overall record for the season identical with Newcastle United, whom they are now tied on points with in fifth and sixth position respectively.

Brighton will certainly be no walkover for the reigning Premier League champions this weekend either, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side having impressed throughout the season and holding their own ambitions of a European campaign next time around.

Manchester City continue to face a number of injury and fitness issues and are likely to do so over the course of the coming weeks with John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Rodri all certainly ruled out of this one.

But ahead of the meeting between Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion, the Premier League have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the Etihad Stadium!

Match Referee

As confirmed by the Premier League ahead of the next round of English top-flight fixtures, Manchester City’s meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion will be overseen by Simon Hooper from the role of match referee.

This weekend will mark the 25th contest overseen by the Wiltshire-born official, having already taken on contests in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup during the ongoing campaign.

Manchester City are yet to lose a single match across competitions when officiated by Simon Hooper, winning eight and drawing five of the 13 matches the 42-year-old has taken charge of involving the Etihad Stadium side.

However, the last time the Premier League champions were overseen by Hooper from the role of match referee failed to result in victory, with Manchester City held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at the Etihad Stadium in late December.

Many Manchester City fans will also be familiar with Hooper’s name after his appointment to the role of referee when they were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur midway through the last season.

Assistant Referees

Accompanying match referee Simon Hooper at the Etihad Stadium this weekend will be an assistant referee pairing of Adrian Holmes and Simon Long, the Premier League have confirmed.

Video Assistant Referees

As for those overseeing Manchester City’s clash with Brighton & Hove Albion from Stockley Park, James Bell has been appointed into the role of Video Assistant Referee with support from Assistant Video Assistant Referee, Nick Hopton.

Fourth Official

Standing between the two dugouts at the Etihad Stadium and ensuring that all is kept in check between Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler will be the appointed fourth official, Anthony Taylor.