The Premier League has appointed John Brooks to referee Everton’s match against Sunderland in matchweek 37, with Tony Harrington on VAR duty at Hill Dickinson Stadium. For Everton, the assignment lands at a delicate moment: they need three points to keep their European hopes alive.

Brooks has overseen 11 Premier League games this season, averaging 0.65 fouls per tackle, 3.73 yellow cards per match and 0.36 penalties per match. He has also taken charge of 15 Everton matches since 2018-2019, and the club have won only once in those games. Since the first Everton match he handled, they have gone 14 games without a win under his watch.

That record will be read closely because Everton have been short of the level David Moyes wanted, their home form has been woeful and late goals have been costing them in recent weeks. Moyes was already still reeling over the handball decision in the loss to West Ham, a call that could end up keeping Everton out of Europe if results do not break their way. Against Sunderland, every decision is likely to be picked over.

For Everton, this is not just another appointment on the schedule. It is the kind of fixture where the margin between relief and regret can be a single whistle, and Brooks will walk into it with a history both sides know well.