Michael Oliver named as referee for the Manchester derby as United and City prepare for battle at Old Trafford in potential title decider
- Michael Oliver will take charge of the upcoming Manchester derby
- Manchester United and rivals City will do battle at Old Trafford on Sunday
- The Red Devils will be without Paul Pogba following his red card at Arsenal
Michael Oliver has been named as the referee to take charge of the upcoming Manchester derby.
Old Trafford is set to play host to Manchester United and their rivals Manchester City on Sunday, in one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the season.
The two sides are currently battling it out at the top of the table, with United looking like the only realistic challengers to high-flying City.
Michael Oliver has been named as the referee to take charge of the Manchester derby
Eight points separate the two sides after 15 games played, with City yet to taste defeat all season.
Oliver will be joined by his assistants for the fixture Gary Beswick and Simon Bennett, with Jon Moss the fourth official.
The 32-year-old ref, who hails from Ashington, has previous in the fixture and took charge last March when the two rivals went head to head.
It was Oliver who denied Marcus Rashford what United fans believed to be a stonewall penalty.
Oliver has history in the fierce derby and gave Chris Smalling his marching orders in 2014
United will take to the derby without Paul Pogba following his recent red card at the Emirates
In previous derbies Oliver made the call to dismiss Chris Smalling - giving the defender his marching orders when the two sides met back in 2014.
For Sunday's fixture United will find themselves without key man Paul Pogba, who will serve a ban following his recent red card at the Emirates.
Pogba was sent off for a lunge on Hector Bellerin, which caught the Arsenal man directly on the knee.
United have opted not to appeal the dismissal and so will do battle with Guardiola's side without their £89million man.
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