Why Everton and Jack Grealish will be thrilled with Michael Salisbury appointment vs Hull City
With the first international break of the season drawing to a close, the return of Premier League football is tantalisingly close.
David Moyes' side will be hoping to pick up where they left off in mid-September too.
Everton remain unbeaten in all competitions in 2026-27, and are fresh off the back of a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town last time out.
Another newly-promoted opponent awaits the Toffees on Sunday, as they travel to the MKM Stadium for a clash with Hull.
The Tigers have been a real surprise package so far this season, and they won't be easy for Everton to tame.
What's Everton's record with Michael Salisbury as referee?
Monday has seen the Premier League announce who the officials will be for this weekend's games.
The man in the middle for Hull against Everton will be Michael Salisbury, who began refereeing in the top flight back in 2021.
Football fans can be very superstitious folk, and those Evertonians who are will be delighted at the news of this appointment.
As detailed via Transfermarkt, Lancashire-born Salisbury has only ever taken charge of four Everton games in his career.
However, the Toffees have won all four of them, starting with a Carabao Cup win over Burnley in 2023.
Salisbury's three other Toffees games have all been in the Premier League, and they were wins against Wolves (2024-25), Crystal Palace and Bournemouth (both 2025-26).
There is also one Everton player in particular who will be feeling confident of a big performance this weekend now that Salisbury is the man in the middle.
What is Grealish's record in Salisbury-taken games?
Everton's returning summer hero Jack Grealish is still finding his feet again in Moyes' side.
The 31-year-old has started one of his four league outings with Everton this term, and is yet to get off the goalscoring mark in 2026-27.
Last season saw the Manchester City loanee net twice for the Toffees in the Premier League against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.
Who was the referee in charge for both of those matches? That's right, it was Salisbury.
So, Grealish's only goals in Everton colours have been when Salisbury is in the middle.
If he does score against Hull on Sunday, then that may be hard to deny proof regarding the existence of the footballing deities.