SHOCKING BOMBSHELL: Premier League’s SECRET ANNOUNCEMENT Set to CRIPPLE Everton Fans’ Hopes – Villa Nightmare Incoming?!
Everton prepare for Premier League return against Aston Villa, though one concern lingers.
After an international break that many Everton supporters considered poorly timed, the Toffees are set to return to action and will be determined to carry on from where they left off.
David Moyes has successfully reignited the feel-good factor at Goodison Park, and with momentum building, a victory over Aston Villa this weekend could even push Everton into the top four — something that would have been unthinkable not long ago.
However, the spotlight in the Premier League this season has often fallen on referees, and Everton have not been immune to questionable calls.
Despite the team’s positive run, they have not always enjoyed the benefit of key decisions.
Richard Keys notably criticised the controversial penalty awarded to Leeds United earlier this season, describing it as “poor,” and that particular decision has left Chris Kavanagh firmly on Moyes’ list of unfavoured officials.
This time around, the responsibility falls to Simon Hooper, who has been appointed as referee for Everton’s clash against Villa at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Supporters will be hoping for a smooth performance from the man in the middle, but memories of his previous mistakes mean that his appointment is being greeted with a degree of caution.
Evertonians still recall some of Hooper’s more bizarre calls from last season. At the very start of the 2024/25 campaign, Hooper was involved in a strange incident during a match against Brighton, where a supposed VAR monitor malfunction left confusion.
Despite suggestions that he could still see the replay, he chose not to award Everton a penalty that many believed was clear.
Later in the season, he incorrectly awarded Manchester City a corner when Jeremy Doku had clearly taken the ball out of play. That error proved costly, as the ensuing corner led directly to a goal.
Hooper’s record with Everton does not inspire much confidence either.
His only red card when officiating the Blues came in the same Brighton fixture, when Ashley Young was dismissed. All these episodes have contributed to a reputation that unsettles Everton fans.
While Moyes’ men will focus on maintaining their upward trajectory, they will also be hoping that Hooper avoids further controversy.
