Richard Keys has offered his verdict on Everton. Credit: beIN SPORTS on X

HomeMatchday Sat 19 October 2024 18:15, UK

Richard Keys showed his surprise at Michael Oliver refereeing Ipswich Town against Everton at Portman Road.

The North East-based Premier League official was assigned the Toffees' clash in East Anglia on Saturday afternoon [19 October].

Arguably the most anticipated fixture of the weekend, Liverpool against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday [20 October], has instead been handed to John Brooks.

Keys, speaking live on beIN Sports [19 October, 12:19], argued this may be to do with giving Oliver more time before officiating in the Champions League in midweek.

"Michael Oliver's doing Ipswich-Everton? He won't be happy with that," the host, who pulled a surprised expression, said.

"It might be to get him out the way before the Champions League games."

Everton record under Michael Oliver The contest between Everton and Ipswich at Portman Road was the first Toffees game of which was taken charge by Oliver this season.

Oliver's last game overseeing Sean Dyche's side was on the final day of the last Premier League campaign, controversially allowing Kai Havertz's late goal for Arsenal to win the game for the Gunners at the Emirates back on 19 May.

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Of the remaining four league fixtures Oliver refereed of Everton's in 2023-24, Dyche's side won three - including against Brentford, Chelsea and Burnley [WorldFootball.net], though he has been the subject of controversy in the VAR room in other contests.

Everton manager Sean Dyche Oliver's 59 domestic Toffees matches during his professional officiating career, before the clash at Ipswich, have yielded a balanced record 19 wins, 21 draws and 19 defeats.

Craig Pawson has so far been the only referee to take charge of Everton twice in the league this season [WhoScored], while Simon Hooper was the man to dismiss Ashley Young on the opening weekend against Brighton at Goodison Park [17 August].

In other Everton news, there are doubts over the long-term reliability of Nathan Patterson.