Jack Grealish fumes over bizarre yellow card for Everton team-mate in Liverpool defeat

Ben McCaffrey

By Ben McCaffrey, 


Published: 20/09/2025

- 18:50
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The former Manchester City midfielder was bemused by the decision

Jack Grealish has reacted in bemused fashion after team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall received a yellow card during Everton's defeat against Liverpool for taking a quick free kick.

The champions maintained their perfect league campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against their city rivals at Anfield.

The hosts seized control within 10 minutes through Ryan Gravenberch's tidy finish following Mohamed Salah's sublime pass.

The Dutch midfielder subsequently assisted Hugo Ekitike, who calmly slotted past Jordan Pickford to double the advantage before the interval.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall received a yellow card during Everton's defeat against Liverpool for taking a quick free kick

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REUTERS

Despite Idrissa Gueye's thunderous strike reducing the arrears, the Reds preserved their unblemished record in a nervy finale.

During the game, Dewsbury-Hall received a caution for attempting to restart play quickly during the defeat and team-mate Grealish expressed his bewilderment at the decision in his post-match interview with TNT Sports.

"It was a bit frustrating really, they were trying to slow the game down," the England international said. "I've never seen anyone in my life get booked for taking a quick free-kick.

"I don't know where that rule came in. Even stoppage time, three minutes and one minute? Like, come on. I've never seen that in the Premier League.

Jack Grealish

Jack Grealish also received a yellow card for his protests after the game

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REUTERS

"I get sometimes you want to let the game go, but you can't let something go then one of their defenders goes down and give it, I get it.

"You come to these stadiums, with the crowd on you, I feels like they have to give it. Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] on four yellows and he gets a yellow today for taking a quick free-kick, we want to get the game going, we're losing the game.

"I've never seen or heard that in my life."

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Jack Grealish

Jack Grealish has reacted in bemused fashion after team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall received a yellow card during Everton's defeat against Liverpool for taking a quick free kick

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TNT SPORTS

And boss David Moyes agreed with Grealish, speaking to BBC after the game.

"The bigger thing is the game seemed to be controlled by the referee, we couldn't start anything quickly. We couldn't play," Moyes said.

"I have had played plenty of games where teams have taken quick free-kicks and it hasn't been the referees' whistle.

"I found it strange there was only three minutes. If Liverpool were 2-0 down I'm not sure if three minutes would have been put up."

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The former West Ham boss' torment at Anfield persists, with the Everton manager failing to secure victory in his 21st attempt at the ground across four different clubs.

The Scot acknowledged his team's sluggish opening period proved costly, admitting they "made it really difficult" with their first-half display.

Gravenberch delivered an outstanding display, netting the opener and creating Ekitike's strike whilst contributing 14 defensive interventions.

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The Dutchman's return to the starting eleven alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister provided a dominating midfield, with £115million-man Florian Wirtz demoted to the bench.

Ekitike continued his prolific form, taking his Liverpool goal tally to four goals with a composed finish from Gravenberch's through ball.

The Frenchman's performance earned acclaim from the Kop, who serenaded him at full-time.

Alexander Isak also marked his Premier League debut for the club with a 20-minute cameo.

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