David Moyes criticises 'very strange' refereeing decision by Darren England after Everton's derby defeat to Liverpool at Anfield

Liverpool, with the Anfield crowd roaring, struck first through Gravenberch before new boy Ekitike doubled the advantage. Everton looked lifeless before the interval, unable to keep pace with Liverpool’s relentless tempo. But the second half told a different story as Moyes’ side found their fight, and Gueye’s goal hauled them back into it. For a while, the champions looked rattled as Everton pushed bodies forward, scenting an equaliser.

Moyes seethed post-match about the minutes added on: "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.”

At the heart of the drama was Jack Grealish. Hounded by Liverpool defenders all evening, the winger felt that protection from the officials was little. To make matters worse, he was shown a yellow card after the final whistle for venting his anger.

“We couldn’t get the last goal and it was frustrating in the second half,” he told TNT Sports. "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. You come to these stadiums and the crowd are on them, I feel that they feel they have to give it. Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] is on four yellows now and he got one for taking a quick free-kick. We want to get the game going, we’re losing.”

The result added another unwanted entry in Moyes’ record book. This was his 21st trip to Anfield in the Premier League without victory, a record number of winless games for a manager at a single stadium. Of those visits, 15 have ended in defeat, with the other six drawn. For the Toffees, the numbers cut deeper still: this was the first time in 88 years that Liverpool have chalked up five consecutive home wins against their city rivals.

With the Premier League setback behind them, Everton must quickly reset. Their next test comes in the EFL Cup, a third-round trip to Molineux against Wolves on Tuesday night. For Moyes and his men, it’s a chance to put the derby anguish to bed and chase progress in a competition that could yet bring joy to their season.