Everton, across what has been a hugely tumultuous campaign, have been required to wage wars on numerous different fronts.
So, whether it be trying to calm takeover talk or defend themselves against further financial breaches, all whilst seeking to clamber out of the relegation battle, this season’s conclusion will be richly welcomed by Evertonians, should it result in safety.
Fortunately, such is the club’s popularity, they has been blessed with numerous high-profile media personalities who have sought to defend the Toffees throughout these various scandals.
However, few have remained as passionate and unrelenting in their pursuit for justice as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
Andy Burnham speaks ahead of Everton vs Chelsea
Having made his feelings well clear about the Premier League, this political figure and his motivations behind such scathing criticism feels far more genuine than other MPs.
After all, it can quite easily be assumed that their support for Everton is completely shrouded in political gain, as they seek to push through an independent regulator by applying more pressure.
However, with Burnham, it is clear that his defence comes from a place of affinity.
Having supported the Toffees all his life, he has not allowed his affiliation with Manchester to halt his search for justice.
As such, he has even used Monday’s game at Chelsea as an opportunity to further condemn the Premier League, taking aim at the institution as well as the standard of refereeing to a degree.
He would take to X to write: ‘Everton play Chelsea on Monday. I hope the referee will be more even-handed than the @premierleague’.
Paul Tierney’s history of refereeing Everton
There are very few, if any referees that Premier League fans want to see in charge of their match nowadays.
Whether it be holding the whistle or heading VAR, almost every official has an outstanding blunder in their repertoire which leaves them as largely maligned figures across the division.
Paul Tierney is no different, as the man set to be in the middle to try and control the chaos at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night.
Having refereed Everton on 16 occasions in the Premier League since 2015, including twice this season, the 44-year-old is arguably far more popular with the blue half of Merseyside than he is with the red.
After all, the conspiracies regarding his relationship with Jurgen Klopp and his team have been rife for years now.
However, when delving back through the archives, there are also a few outstanding gaffes that Tierney has made whilst overseeing the Toffees, none potentially more damaging than the ignored penalty call for Rodri’s handball during the 2021/22 season.
What always makes things worse is the arrogance shown following such an outstanding gaffe, and the subsequent yellow card he administered to Ashley Cole only added to frustration.
The hope will be that he, alongside Michael Salisbury on VAR, can do as Burnham suggests and act in an even-handed manner to make the clash as level as possible.