Leeds United will be looking to pull off an FA Cup shock when they face Premier League big boys Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening.
The Whites, who maintained top spot in the Championship with a 1-1 draw against promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on New Year's Day, will make the trip to the capital aiming to become the second Championship club to knock Arsenal out of the competition in three seasons, following in the footsteps of Nottingham Forest, who sent the Gunners packing back in 2018.
While, of course, it is going to be an excellent occasion for Marcelo Bielsa's players, who will get the chance to pit themselves up against some of the biggest names in world football, all eyes, as so often on nights like these, will be on the referee.
The man in question is Cheshire-based whistle-blower Anthony Taylor, who last took charge of a Whites game back in May - the 4-2 defeat to Derby County in the second-leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals.
Taylor, who is 41-years-old, has taken charge of 25 matches so far this season, the bulk of which have been in the Premier League. The referee, who has brandished a whopping 122 yellow cards this term, as well as five reds, has also officiated Champions League and UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers this season.
In his refereeing career, Taylor has taken charge of games including Leeds a total of 10 times, the most recent of which, prior to the clash with Derby, was a 2-0 reverse to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough back in January 2016.
Of the 10 games Taylor has taken charge of, Leeds have won four, failing to win six, all of which are the last six.
As well as Taylor being in charge of matters on the pitch at the Emirates, Leeds will also been under the watch of VAR Stuart Atwell, who will operate from Stockley Park.
All FA Cup third-round games that are being staged at Premier League grounds will have VAR in operation.
It will be the first time in the Whites' history that they have played a match with VAR in operation.
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