Everton forward Richarlison has come under fire for going down too easily in recent weeks.
Richarlison has shown a tendency to collapse under contact, and he came in for criticism from Jamie Carragher last weekend when Everton took on Tottenham Hotspur.
Richarlison actually could have had a penalty on that occasion, but the referee chose not to award it.
And Silva has admitted publicly that Richarlison needs to make more effort to stay on his feet now.
“We are working with him because the Premier League is really tough and the message and the feedback to him is to always don’t fall down,” Silva said.
“Even if it looks in many, many moments that it is not fair on him with the decisions, what I am saying to him and our staff as well is for him to keep standing as much as he can and in the right moments the referee will be fair with him, because we feel that it is a little bit not so fair.
“Keep standing and be strong because the contact in the Premier League is really strong as well. And, for sure, look after the football and the decisions will be fair with you.”
The comments have not gone down well with many Everton supporters, who think that Silva should be backing his players.
They are now concerned that Richarlison will receive even less favourable treatment off referees, as they will subscribe to the theory that he goes down too easily.
Richarlison and Everton are next in action on Saturday at St. Mary’s, when they take on Southampton.
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