A few Everton fans have been reacting on social media, after the Premier League announced that David Coote will officiate Brighton & Hove Albion’s visit to Goodison Park on Saturday.
Graham Potter’s Seagulls will arrive on Merseyside looking to do the double over the Blues, having beaten the club 3-2 when managed by Marco Silva in October.
Brighton have never done the double over Everton, though we have taken two wins over the south coast side in the same league campaign once, having accomplished the feat during the 1980/81 Division One season.
We have also beaten Brighton in each of their two Premier League visits to Goodison Park with an aggregate scoreline of 5-1, and are unbeaten in all competitions at home to the Seagulls.
Saturday’s encounter will be our first against Brighton under Carlo Ancelotti, and will be only our second game refereed by Coote.
The Nottinghamshire-resident held the whistle in his only Toffees game to date when we beat Brighton 3-1 at Goodison Park in November 2018, when goals by Richarlison and Seamus Coleman left Chris Hughton’s Seagulls 12th in the table.
What will the result be when Brighton travel to Goodison Park?
Win
Draw
Loss
Coote has previously cast his verdict over six of Brighton’s fixtures in all competitions, most recently their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on October 19 when Aaron Mooy was shown two yellow cards.
Coote has taken charge of eight Premier League games this season in total, along with five in the Championship and one in the FA and EFL Cup respectively.
Across the ties, he has awarded 60 yellow cards, the one second yellow to Mooy and two penalty kicks.
Coote’s total of 30 Premier League yellow cards for the season is the 14th most in the top-flight of the 20 officials used, while ranking third for fouls per game with an average of 23.5.
Assistants Stuart Burt, Nick Hopton and Fourth Official Jonathan Moss will join Coote at Goodison Park on Saturday, while Stuart Attwell will be assisted by Scott Ledger at Stockley Park to oversee VAR duties.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Coote’s appointment…
Never heard of him but I’m sure he’s just as useless as the rest of the officials
— JSRiley87 (@Riley87Js) January 6, 2020
https://t.co/bu2HQ9Zj3g
Looks like he likes to flash the yellows about— Mark L (@Toffybolox) January 6, 2020
— EFCTweeter (@EFCTweeter1878) January 6, 2020
Cant he play in Midfield instead?
— Simon (@SG_EFC) January 6, 2020
Is he new?
— EFC.Cain (@efc_cain) January 6, 2020
— Louis Melia EFC (@LouisMeliaEFC) January 6, 2020
In other Everton news, Ancelotti is reportedly ready to cash in on a 74-cap international.