Everton were left fuming with referee Darren England after a strange call he made during the Merseyside Derby.
The Toffees left Anfield empty-handed after a 2-1 loss to Liverpool.
The match was effectively decided in the first half, but there were still a few positives to take away despite the defeat.
Ally McCoist lauded Jack Grealish’s performance in his debut Merseyside Derby for Everton.
Nevertheless, the referee proved to be a significant source of frustration for David Moyes’ side throughout the match.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall faces suspension risk after Merseyside Derby
After the match, Grealish criticised the referee for booking Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who had taken a quick free-kick.
The decision surprised those on the Everton bench, and it may have further implications in the coming weeks.
Grealish noted that Dewsbury-Hall is now one caution away from a suspension due to Darren England’s call.
“Kiernan now, I think, is on four yellows. So, he’s got one more and he gets a yellow today for taking a quick free kick,” the British winger said to TNT Sports.
“We want to get the game going. We’re losing the game. I’ve never heard of that in my life.”
Dewsbury-Hall has caught attention for how well he has settled into life at Everton.
But it has not taken long for disciplinary issues to start affecting his availability this season.
Dewsbury-Hall’s disciplinary record at Everton
The referee’s call during Sunday’s match certainly raised eyebrows among both fans and pundits. Unfortunately for Dewsbury-Hall, there is little recourse once a yellow card has been handed out – it will not be overturned.
| Everton vs | Yellow card? |
| Leeds United | No |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Yes |
| Wolves | Yes |
| Aston Villa | Yes |
| Liverpool | Yes |
He has already collected four bookings in his first five Premier League appearances of this season, and is now just one away from serving an automatic one-match ban.
The potential one-game ban for the midfielder would be a significant setback for the team, so he needs to be cautious in the coming matches.
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