Everton will be furious with PGMOL after ‘clear foul’ is missed before Liverpool opener

The Merseyside derby is always one of the most emotional and unpredictable fixtures in English football. It is a game that divides a city, splits families, and writes stories that stay in the hearts of fans forever. When Liverpool and Everton meet, it is never just about football, it is about pride, history, and bragging rights that last for months. On this occasion at Anfield, Liverpool secured a 2-1 win, but once again controversy and anger followed the game, leaving Everton fans furious at refereeing decisions and leaving the PGMOL under heavy fire.

Liverpool entered this derby with confidence. Arne Slot’s men had been building momentum, playing attacking football, and had their fans believing in another strong season. Everton, managed by David Moyes, knew the challenge would be massive but also knew that derbies are not just about form, they are about moments. The problem for Everton was that too many of those moments went against them, and one decision in particular left them feeling cheated.

The game started at a frantic pace, as Merseyside derbies always do. The noise inside Anfield was electric, the sea of red flags waving as the Liverpool players pressed high and looked for an early breakthrough. Everton tried to hold their ground, tried to silence the noise with composure, but Liverpool’s energy was overwhelming in the opening minutes. Then came the moment that changed everything.

Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring for Liverpool with a smart hooked finish over Jordan Pickford. The home fans erupted, the stadium shook, and Liverpool had exactly the start they wanted. But Everton players immediately surrounded the referee, furious about what had happened seconds earlier. In the build-up to the goal, there had been a challenge that they believed was a clear foul on Jack Grealish.

Sky Sports pundit Peter Gill was quick to point it out. He said on air: “Everton will rue a couple of decisions in the build-up to that goal. There was a clear foul on Grealish ignored a minute or so ago.” He went further, explaining that while the next tackle on Ndiaye looked fair, the foul on Grealish had already shifted the momentum. By not giving the free kick, Darren England, the referee, allowed Liverpool to keep possession, and within moments, the ball was in the back of the net.

For Everton, that was the story of the game. Decisions went against them, and each one seemed to cut deeper into their confidence. David Moyes stood on the touchline with his hands on his head, a picture of disbelief and frustration. He knew how fine the margins are in a derby, and he knew how damaging it is when refereeing calls go against you in such a hostile atmosphere.

Liverpool doubled their lead before half-time. Hugo Ekitike, the young striker who has been making waves since his move, struck again to make it 2-0. The Anfield crowd was buzzing, singing his name, while Everton players could only look around at each other wondering how they were two goals down despite battling hard. For Liverpool, it was a dream first half. For Everton, it was a nightmare fuelled not only by Liverpool’s brilliance but by officiating controversies.

Idrissa Gueye did manage to pull one back for Everton in the second half. It gave the away fans a glimmer of hope, a sense that maybe they could snatch a draw if they pushed harder. But despite their fight, despite their determination, the game ended 2-1. Liverpool celebrated another derby victory. Everton, once again, left Anfield with anger boiling inside them.

The main focus after the match was not on Gravenberch’s finish, not on Ekitike’s sharp strike, and not even on Gueye’s consolation. It was on Darren England, the referee, and the PGMOL, who are once again under fire for inconsistency. Everton fans, pundits, and players all felt that the first Liverpool goal should never have stood.

Football is a game of details, and one missed foul can change everything. If England had blown his whistle when Conor Bradley challenged Grealish, Everton would have had a free kick. That free kick could have taken the pressure off their defence, maybe even led to a chance of their own. Instead, Liverpool kept the ball, kept the pressure, and scored. That sequence changed the whole shape of the game. It gave Liverpool belief, it gave their fans energy, and it left Everton chasing shadows.

Moyes, who had initially been satisfied that Darren England was in charge, left Anfield fuming. He knows his team must fight against Liverpool’s quality, but he does not expect them to fight against refereeing errors as well. His post-match mood was dark, his face told the story of a man who felt robbed by circumstances out of his control.

This was not the only controversial call from the referee. Throughout the game, Jack Grealish, who has become a key figure in Everton’s attack, was on the receiving end of multiple challenges. Some of those looked like fouls, but the whistle never came. The Everton fans inside Anfield screamed, the players appealed, but England waved play on again and again. It created an atmosphere of frustration, with Grealish visibly confused and angry. He wanted to help his team, but he also wanted protection that never came.

Then came another bizarre decision. In the second half, Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was shown a yellow card for taking a free-kick too quickly. It was the kind of decision that left fans scratching their heads. How often do referees encourage teams to play fast, to bring tempo, yet here was a player punished for it? That yellow card summed up the day for Everton — every 50-50, every strange call, went against them.

For Everton, these moments matter more than ever. They are a team fighting to climb the table, a team with European ambitions, and points in games like this can be decisive. Dropping three points at Anfield might not seem like a disaster on paper, but when the manner of the defeat feels unjust, it eats away at morale.

Liverpool fans, of course, celebrated with joy. A derby win is always special, and they will point to their dominance in the first half as proof they deserved the victory. They will highlight Gravenberch’s clever finish and Ekitike’s growing importance in the team. For them, this was a step forward in their season, another big win under Arne Slot, who continues to win the faith of the supporters. But deep down, even some neutrals watching admitted that Everton had a case. The foul on Grealish looked obvious, and the fact it led directly to Liverpool’s opener leaves a stain on the result.

PGMOL will once again face questions. The organisation has been under scrutiny for months, accused of inconsistency, and accused of making decisions that change games unfairly. This derby only adds to the pressure. Everton fans will feel they were victims of another refereeing blunder, and Moyes will demand answers.

The Merseyside derby is meant to be remembered for passion, goals, and rivalry. Instead, this one will be remembered for refereeing controversy. Darren England had the chance to keep control, to ensure fairness, but instead his decisions left one side celebrating and the other side furious.

As the dust settles, Liverpool move on with confidence, knowing they are in a strong position. Everton, however, are left licking their wounds, wondering how different things could have been if just one whistle had been blown in their favour.

Football is cruel. The margins are thin. In games like this, those margins are everything. Everton fought hard, they showed spirit, but they left Anfield beaten not just by Liverpool, but by the decisions of the referee. For David Moyes and his players, that will be the hardest part to accept.