Sophia
LIVERPOOL, UK – Everton forward Jack Grealish has launched a scathing critique of referee Darren England, accusing him of being unduly influenced by the fervent Anfield crowd during Saturday’s tense 2-1 Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool. Grealish’s frustrations boiled over after a series of contentious decisions, particularly a yellow card issued for attempting a quick free-kick, a ruling he claims he has “never seen in my whole life.”
A Derby of Contrasts: Liverpool’s Early Surge Meets Everton’s Late Fightback
The highly anticipated Merseyside derby saw Liverpool, despite a grueling Champions League encounter just 65 hours prior, burst out of the blocks with impressive intensity. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring in the 10th minute, demonstrating his growing influence in the Reds’ midfield. Hugo Ekitiké then doubled their advantage half an hour in, putting the hosts firmly in control.
Everton, initially struggling to find their rhythm, gradually clawed their way back into the contest as Liverpool’s European exertions began to show. Idrissa Gana Gueye’s thumping strike in the 58th minute halved the deficit, injecting a palpable sense of anxiety into Anfield and setting the stage for a nail-biting conclusion.
Grealish’s Fury: “Never in My Whole Life”
While Liverpool ultimately secured all three points, the match was marred by what Grealish perceived as inconsistent and biased officiating. The Manchester City loanee was particularly incensed by referee England’s decision to twice halt Everton from taking quick free-kicks, culminating in a yellow card for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after the second instance.
“I don’t know where that rule has come in,” Grealish fumed in his post-match interview. “I’ve never seen a player in my whole life get booked for taking a quick free kick. We want to get the game going, we’re losing, and I’ve never heard of that in my life.”
His frustrations extended beyond the free-kick incident, encompassing the allocation of stoppage time and what he perceived as a disparity in foul calls. “Even the stoppage time, three minutes and one minute—I’ve never seen that in the Premier League in the last two or three years,” he stated. “There were frustrations with the referee. Sometimes you want to let the game go, I completely get that, but you can’t not give us something and then two seconds later one of their defenders goes down after getting touched in the back and he gives it. You can’t do that. You come to these stadiums and the crowd are on them, I feel that they [the referees] feel they have to give it.”
Managerial Disagreement and Referee’s History
Everton manager David Moyes echoed Grealish’s sentiments regarding the officiating, particularly the minimal stoppage time. “I think three minutes [of stoppage time] was very strange,” Moyes lamented. “We’ve been playing a couple of teams who’ve taken quick free kicks in games and they’ve caught us out, but today, every quick free kick had to be stopped and brought back for the whistle and then [Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall] got booking for it.”
This was Darren England’s first Merseyside derby, and only his second career appointment at Anfield. His previous visit saw him controversially show Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch two yellow cards in quick succession during a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last May, demonstrating a history of making decisions that have incensed fans on both sides of Merseyside.
The Impact on Everton’s Season
The defeat leaves Everton grappling with their form, especially in crucial derby encounters. While the focus remains on the Premier League table, the psychological impact of such a contentious loss, coupled with Grealish’s strong accusations, could linger. The incident also highlights the ongoing debate surrounding refereeing standards and the perceived influence of home crowds in high-stakes matches.
