Everton manager David Moyes criticised the duration of the stoppage time awarded in his side’s 1-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.
Moyes was left miffed by the decision to allot just three minutes at the end of 90 minutes in Anfield, while Everton was futilely chasing a late equaliser.
“Three minutes was very strange. Every quick free-kick had to be stopped and brought back for the whistle and then we get a booking for it. I find it quite unbelievable,” said Moyes after the game.
Everton midfielder Jack Grealish shared his coach’s frustration and was booked in the aftermath of the tie for excessive complaining to Darren England, the on-field referee.
“We couldn’t get the last goal and it was frustrating in the second half, They were trying to slow the game down at times. 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. Even the stoppage-time, three minutes and one minute – I’ve never seen that in the Premier League in the last two or three years.
“There were frustrations with the referee. Sometimes you want to let the game go, I completely get that, but you can’t not give us something and then two seconds later one of their defenders goes down after getting touched in the back and he gives it,” Grealish told TNT Sports.
Grealish has made a significant impact at Everton with four assists in his first five games, after joining the team on loan from Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
The 30-year-old credited Moyes for rekindling his love for the game. “I thank (Everton boss David Moyes) for giving me my love back, and waking up on a match day and wanting to smile and play again. And the fans as well, they’ve been so good with me.”
Published on Sep 21, 2025
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com