Round 2! Pep Guardiola is set for a touchline reunion with Anthony Taylor at Villa Park on Wednesday – after sarcastically calling the fourth official the ‘the master of commander who knows everything’

Pep Guardiola and Anthony Taylor will meet again on the sidelines this week, with the referee named as the fourth official for Manchester City's upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

It comes after the Spanish manager slammed the referees following Manchester City's 3-3 draw against Tottenham on Sunday, with Guardiola unhappy with referee Simon Hooper's controversial decision to blow the whistle for a foul on Erling Haaland just as Jack Grealish ran clear on goal. in the dying embers of the game.

At 3-3, the England winger could have won the match for Man City after Spurs pulled a goal back late in the match, with Dejan Kulusevski scoring a header in the 90th minute.

But during his post-match interview, Guardiola was furious with the referees, and when asked if he had been given an explanation for the decision, he said being into sports: 'No, Commander Anthony Taylor's captain knows everything about this case and has not told me anything.'

Despite this, the pair will be back on the sidelines on Wednesday, with John Brooks set to take charge as referee for the match at Villa Park, while Paul Tierney and Scott Ledger will act as VAR and assistant VAR.

Anthony Taylor will again be the fourth official for Man City's Premier League match against Aston Villa on Wednesday

It comes after Pep Guardiola sarcastically hit out at the fourth official following Man City's draw against Tottenham

Guardiola was furious after referee Simon Hooper blew up a foul on Erling Haaland, despite Jack Grealish being played on target in the final remainder of the match.

Taylor was relegated to the Championship in November, in what was his first spell away from the top flight since 2019, after awarding Newcastle a controversial penalty during the 2–2 draw with Wolves on 28 October.

He then dropped down to oversee Preston's match against Coventry in the second tier, before being recalled to oversee Man City's 4-4 draw with Chelsea.

Hooper, meanwhile, who was also criticized by Erling Haaland after the match, will referee Sheffield United's match against Liverpool, with Michael Oliver joining him as VAR for that match.

Guardiola had also told Sky Sports he would not make the same damning comments as Mikel Arteta, after the Arsenal boss raged at officials following his side's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in November, calling out the controversial goal branded the Magpies a 'disgrace'. '.

“Next question: I will not comment on Mikel Arteta,” Guardiola said when asked about the incident.

'If you look at the image, the referee blows his whistle after saying 'play on' and then after the passing whistle. This is what I don't understand.

Grealish could have gone in to score and win the match, but the Man City players were angry with Hooper after he made the call.

Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees at all levels of the game

Guardiola sarcastically called Taylor the “master of the commander” and added “he knows everything and hasn't told me anything” when asked if Taylor had explained the decision to him

Guardiola had also said he would not copy Mikel Arteta, who also hit the referees after Arsenal's controversial 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

'But it was a good game, that's the most important thing, a shame when you think about Liverpool's game and today's incredible performance in all areas. We created a lot of chances, were aggressive and felt like we wanted to be there.

'It's a shame, but football is like life and sometimes you don't get what you deserve. Congratulations to Spurs and on to the next one.”

Last week, Taylor also showed a red card to Brighton's Lewis Dunk, who became the first player to be sent off for foul and abusive language in more than 11 years, when the referee ran out of patience during the 3-2 win of the Seagulls against Nottingham Forest.

Dunk, meanwhile, said he spoke to Taylor immediately after the match and apologized to the referee.