Referee appointed for Leeds United's clash at Newcastle United with recent history of penalties and reds

Cheshire-based Taylor has already refereed three Whites Premier League games this season through the 4-3 win at home to Fulham, the goalless draw at home to Arsenal and the 6-2 defeat at Manchester United.

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe was shown a straight red card for lowering his head into Gjanni Alioski's face in the draw with the Gunners after Taylor went to his monitor following intervention from VAR whilst Leeds and Fulham were both awarded penalties in the clash between the Whites and Cottagers at Elland Road.

Only Michael Oliver has awarded more penalties in the Premier League this season with Taylor pointing to the spot seven times from 12 games, five less than Oliver who has taken charge of two more games.

Taylor is one of three Premier League officials to have sent off three players this season with only Graham Scott topping that with four.

Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings was sent off for a second bookable offence in Villa's 3-0 win at home to Crystal Palace on Boxing Day - without any VAR.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial was shown a straight red in the 6-1 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur back in October for palming Erik Lamela in the face - without VAR.

Taylor was also the man in the middle for United's Championship play-offs semi-final second leg defeat to Derby County at Elland Road in May 2019, four months after also refereeing United's 1-0 loss at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.

Taylor sent off Gaetano Berardi for a second bookable offence in the Rams defeat in which Derby were awarded a penalty for Liam Cooper's shirt pull on Mason Bennet.

Alexander Lacazette, meanwhile, escaped any sort of punishment despite kicking out at Berardi in the FA Cup clash against the Gunners.

Having also taken charge of games featuring the Whites in both the Championship and League One, Taylor will be refereeing a Leeds clash for the 15th time.

Max Gradel and Jonny Howson were both sent off by Taylor for second bookable offences in the 1-0 Championship loss at home to Middlesbrough back in August 2011 in which Boro's Tony McMahon was also dismissed.

Gary Beswick and James Mainwaring will be Taylor's assistants for the clash at St James' Park and Peter Bankes will be the fourth official.

Jared Gillett will be on VAR, assisted by Constantine Hatzidakis.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/steve-bruce-newcastle-uniteds-difficult-moment-thirteen-hour-drought-and-what-leeds-united-could-expect-against-magpies-3105295

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins