Jack Grelish confessed that he became increasingly irritated with match officials during the Merseyside Derby clash between Liverpool and Everton. Despite their brave efforts, Toffee was left empty-handed after a tight 2-1 defeat at Anfield. Ryan Gravenburch defeated the Reds’ deadlock in the 10th minute of the match, defeating Jordan Pickford and latched into Mohamed Sarah’s through ball with a volley.
Hugo Ekitike extended the lead in the 29th minute, and after 58 minutes passed, he extended the lead before Everton reduced the deficit through Idrissa Gueye. Visitors huffed and blew into the air looking for the later equalizer, but Liverpool stuck to secure all three points. After the final whisper, Grealish revealed where everything was unraveled for Everton that day.
Discussing the atmosphere of Anfield in a conversation with TNT Sports, he said:
“I don’t think we played well in the first half. We came at halftime, chatted with our manager and lost the game in the second half.
“If we were playing that way, it’s annoying because it was a different game that pushed us that way from the start, and we couldn’t get that final goal in the end.
“It was a bit frustrating in the second half because they were trying to slow the game sometimes. I’ve never seen a lifelong player booked to take a quick free kick. I don’t know where that rule came from.
“Even the downtime, what was it, 3 minutes and a minute?
When asked if he was annoyed by the officials, Grail said, “Yeah, of course, we listen and let go of the game, but you can’t give anything for us, and two seconds later one of their defenders touches the back and he gives it.
“I’m just like you can’t do it. I think I get it and you’re coming to these stadiums and the crowd is on top of you and they feel like they have to give it.
“But like I said, I think Kieran (Dewsbury-Hall) is now four year yellow. He only has one more (before the ban), and he wants to do a free kick today. He wants to continue the game. We lose the game.
After Dewsbury-Hall was controversially booked by referee Darren Ingland in the 78th minute, he is eager to secure an equalizer in the precious time left on the watch after a free kick before the whistle was blown away.
Grelish also received the yellow card after the final whisper after he approached the officials to challenge their match decision before Pickford intervened to take him away.
