Jack Grealish has openly criticized the officiating during the Merseyside derby, following Everton's narrow 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. The match, which saw Liverpool extend their winning streak to five games, was marred by controversial decisions that left Grealish and the Everton squad frustrated.

The primary source of Grealish's ire was the yellow card issued to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for taking a quick free-kick. Grealish, along with commentators and Everton manager David Moyes, expressed disbelief at the decision. "I've never seen a player in my whole life get booked for taking a quick free-kick," Grealish told TNT Sports after the game. "I don't know where that rule has come in". The commentators on TNT Sports, Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, also questioned the legitimacy of the booking.

Adding to the frustration, Grealish also took issue with the amount of stoppage time added at the end of the match. Only three minutes were added despite numerous stoppages in play during the second half due to free-kicks and substitutions. "Even the stoppage time, what was it, three minutes and one minute? Come on, I've never seen that in the Premier League in the last two or three years," Grealish stated.

Grealish's outburst continued after the final whistle, resulting in a yellow card for the player himself after he confronted referee Darren England. Teammate Jordan Pickford intervened to prevent Grealish from further escalating the situation, while Everton manager David Moyes also voiced his dissatisfaction to the officials.

The game itself saw Liverpool take a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike. Everton managed to pull one back through Idrissa Gueye in the second half, setting up a tense finish. Despite their efforts, the Toffees were unable to find an equaliser, leaving Grealish to lament the team's slow start. "It was frustrating because if we had played like that, pressed like that from the start it would have been a different game," he said.

Despite the loss and the controversial officiating, Grealish acknowledged the hostile atmosphere of the Merseyside derby. "It was what I expected, coming here it was hostile, faster," he said. He also praised his team's second-half performance and their belief that they could get back into the game.

The defeat leaves Everton searching for answers as they prepare for their next match against Wolves in the Carabao Cup. Meanwhile, Grealish's outburst has sparked debate about the standard of officiating in the Premier League and the application of certain rules.