Grealish Furious After Controversial Call Mars Merseyside Derby
The Merseyside derby delivered its usual passion, pride, and drama, but this time the headlines weren’t about goals or tackles — they were about a baffling refereeing decision that left Jack Grealish stunned.
Liverpool narrowly defeated Everton 2–1, but after the final whistle, Grealish publicly criticised referee Darren England for enforcing a rule he claimed he had “never in his life heard of.” His frustration echoed the mood across the Everton squad.
Liverpool started strongly, with Ryan Gravenberch opening the scoring in the 10th minute and Hugo Ekitike doubling the lead soon after. Everton fought back in the second half, with Idrissa Gueye’s thunderous strike just before the hour mark reigniting the contest.
The flashpoint came when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall earned a free-kick in a dangerous position and attempted a quick restart. England blew the whistle and inexplicably issued a yellow card to Dewsbury-Hall. Players protested immediately, the bench erupted, and TNT Sports commentators Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist openly questioned the decision.
Wearing the captain’s armband, Grealish confronted the referee, gesturing in disbelief and demanding an explanation. Post-match, he slammed the call as unjust, arguing that Dewsbury-Hall had acted within the spirit of the game.
Everton’s fightback ultimately fell short, but the incident ensured this derby will be remembered as much for the contentious officiating as for the 2–1 scoreline. For Grealish, the message was clear: football should reward players’ quick thinking — not punish it with baffling decisions.
