Jack Grealish Criticizes Referee After Liverpool 2-1 Merseyside Derby Victory

Jack Grealish expressed intense frustration with the officiating following Everton's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, particularly criticizing the referee Darren England's decision to add only three minutes of stoppage time and the booking of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for taking a quick free-kick—a caution Grealish claimed he had never seen before. After the match, Grealish confronted the officials, earning a yellow card for his dissent, and had to be restrained by teammate Jordan Pickford to avoid further punishment. Everton manager David Moyes also voiced displeasure about the limited stoppage time, reflecting a shared sense of injustice from the Everton side. Despite Liverpool's strong start with two early goals, Everton rallied in the second half with Idrissa Gueye scoring to reduce the deficit, increasing the tension as they pushed for an equalizer. Match analysts like Wayne Rooney noted Everton's improved performance in the second half, suggesting they were the superior side after the initial period, but ultimately lacked the cutting edge to salvage points. The post-match controversy and heated exchanges underscore the high stakes and emotional intensity of the fixture, with Everton feeling aggrieved by key refereeing decisions that influenced the game's outcome.