Jack Grealish Slates Referee for Applying Rule He’s ‘Never Heard’

Jack Grealish hit out at the referee for enforcing a Premier League rule that he has ‘never heard of in his life’ in a furious post-match interview.

Liverpool earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Everton at Anfield on Saturday.

Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Hugo Ekitike doubled his side’s advantage with a cool finish.

Everton came out fighting in the second-half and were rewarded for their resilience when Idrissa Gueye pulled one back just before the hour mark.

The Toffees continued to press in search of an equaliser as David Moyes’ side picked up the tempo.

In the second-half, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looked to take a quick free-kick to catch Liverpool’s defence off guard until match referee Darren England intervened.

England not only denied the quick free-kick but also booked Dewsbury-Hall to the dismay of Moyes and TNT Sports commentators Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, who both questioned the decision.

Jack Grealish remonstrates with Darren England during Liverpool vs. Everton. Image: Getty

Jack Grealish remonstrates with Darren England during Liverpool vs. Everton. Image: Getty

After the game, Grealish conducted an interview with TNT Sports and slammed England’s decision to show Dewsbury-Hall a yellow card for taking a quick free-kick.

The 30-year-old bemoaned the caution and said he has never seen a player receive a booking for that infraction.

“I’ve never seen a player in my whole life get booked for taking a quick free-kick…. I don’t know where that rule has come in,” he exclaimed.

Jack Grealish cuts a frustrated figure during the Merseyside derby. Image: Getty

Jack Grealish cuts a frustrated figure during the Merseyside derby. Image: Getty

On the Merseyside derby, Grealish added: “It was what I expected, coming here it was hostile, faster. I don’t think we played well in the first-half, we came in a half-time and had a chat with the manager and then second half, we lost the game in the second half.

“Frustrating because if we had played like that, pressed like that from the start it would have been a different game. In the end we couldn’t get that last goal.

“When I have watched them [Liverpool] this season they have been so good but there has been a few times they have gone 2-0 up and then conceded two, we had the belief. We got the one back, a great finish Idrissa [Gueye] but we couldn’t get that last goal.”

It was another stellar performance from Grealish, who was unable to inspire his side to victory.

Everton return to action next Tuesday when they face Wolves in the Carabao Cup before resuming their league campaign against West Ham United on September 29.