Manchester-born Anthony Taylor to referee Man Utd vs Man City

Anthony Taylor has been chosen to ref the match between Manchester City and Manchester United [Courtesy]

Manchester-born referee Anthony Taylor will take charge of Sunday's Manchester derby.

The 40-year-old whistler was born in Wythenshawe and is one of the elite match officials in the country.

Referees have to declare a club with which they have the biggest conflict of interest at the start of every campaign, and Taylor selected his local non-league side Altrincham, who he supports.

It will be the first time Taylor has taken charge of a clash between United and City but has regularly officiated matches involving both clubs.

The 40-year-old whistler was born in Wythenshawe [Courtesy]

Taylor took charge of the 2017 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal and is listed by both UEFA and FIFA.

In 11 matches so far this campaign, Taylor is yet to produce a red card and showed only one in 27 league games last term.

Earlier this season, Taylor was in charge at Old Trafford, just six miles from where he was born, when United came from 2-0 down to beat Newcastle 3-2.

And former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg questioned his decision not to award Newcastle a penalty for handball five minutes before half-time, which would have given them the opportunity to make it 3-0.

“Newcastle will feel aggrieved that they were not awarded a penalty at 2-0 after a handball by Ashley Young in the 40th minute,” Clattenburg said.

"The Manchester United full back, standing in a two-man defensive wall, deliberately moved his right arm and blocked a free-kick.

"Referee Anthony Taylor should have given a penalty (he didn't even award a corner) but in his defence, the incident was in a blind spot and there is a reason why he could not see it."

Taylor's first Premier League game was a match between Fulham and Portsmouth in 2010.