Sunday sees Everton welcome Liverpool to Goodison Park for what is sure to be another hotly contested Merseyside derby. The fixture has proved notorious for controversy in the past, and is in fact the fixture that holds the record number of red cards in English football (20 in total).

This is a game you feel that could have a big bearing on how the season unfolds. With Everton sitting fourth, a win would see them create a nine point gap between themselves and their biggest rivals, whilst a win would do wonders for Liverpool and would really kick start a season which has been littered with promising performances if not results.

But arguably the most important aspect of this fixture will be how the referee performs. It is my opinion that these big derby matches are far too often spoiled by the match officials, as was the case with the corresponding fixture last season.

Last season saw Liverpool run out 2-0 winners at Goodison Park, but this was in part down to the controversial red card given to Jack Rodwell inside just 23 minutes by referee Martin Atkinson. The young midfielder was shown a straight red card for a supposedly two footed tackle on Luis Suarez, a decision that was later rescinded on appeal.

Everton manager David Moyes was left fuming saying: "I thought it ruined the game. I would have been disappointed if it had been a free-kick. I don't think anyone in this world thought it was a sending off."

There have already been examples of harsh red cards in derby matches this season. Mark Halsey's decision to send off Jonjo Shelvey during the United game was the wrong one in my opinion, whilst Cheick Tiote's red card in the Wear-Tyne derby on Sunday could also be deemed harsh, where once again Martin Atkinson was the man in charge.

Each decision has effected the result in huge derby matches in a negative manner for the team reduced to ten men. Everton went on to lose 2-0 last season, despite looking the better side before the sending off.

Liverpool's match with United at Anfield last month was a carbon copy, as Brendan Rodgers side looked to be dominating proceedings until Shelvey's controversial dismissal. United went on to win 2-1, and the game as a spectacle was spoilt.

Newcastle were leading at the weekend and were forced to defend the entire second half following Tiote's dismissal. Sunderland forced a late equaliser, and Alan Pardew admitted he felt his team would have been victorious had it been eleven v eleven.

The referee's need to take into account the passion involved in big derby matches, and referee somewhat accordingly. There are bound to be aggressive challenges, it is the nature of a derby and is what makes them the most anticipated days on the footballing calendar. Players will be crucified for pulling out of challenges by fans and managers far more than usual. Jonjo Shelvey said after his red card against United, it would have been 'criminal' to pull out of the challenge that got him sent off. Common sense could have prevented all of the dismissals mentioned above, but sadly they do not appear to be words in any referee's vocabulary - particularly this season.

Andre Marriner is the man in charge this Sunday, the same man chosen to referee last seasons title defining Manchester derby, due to his apparent cool headed nature. Marriner was also the man in charge during Liverpool's feisty 1-1 draw with Manchester United last season, in which the row between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra developed. He seems the right appointment given his experience of big derby matches. I just hope we are not talking about him after the match on Sunday and common sense prevails.

Follow me on Twitter @LukeGreenwood89

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