Moyes criticises ref for penalty call: ‘We didn’t deserve to lose’

David Moyes felt Everton deserved a penalty and at least a point after the first-ever Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended in a heart-breaking late defeat to Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk‘s header in the 10th minute of stoppage time secured the Reds a 2-1 win after Beto had cancelled out Mohamed Salah‘s first-half opener.

Moyes felt his side did a “great job” on Sunday and “showed that we’re not too far away” from Liverpool, but frustration was his overriding emotion after Everton‘s European push took a hit.

“Absolutely we [deserved a point],” boss Moyes said. “We didn’t deserve the outcome we got.

“But football’s cruel sometimes and you hopefully have to bounce back and go again when adversity goes against you a wee bit.”

Moyes believes Everton should have been awarded a penalty for Curtis Jones‘ barge on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall shortly before Iliman Ndiaye saw a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up.

Bigger setbacks were to follow, with Van Dijk punishing a defence disrupted by the loss of Jarrad Branthwaite, who left the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after appearing to sustain another hamstring injury.

Asked if he felt Everton should have been awarded a spot-kick for Jones’ barge on Dewsbury-Hall, Moyes said: “Yeah, I do. Why would he go down if he’s not [fouled]?

“He’s in on goal to shoot and finish, so why would he not take the opportunity to do that?”

On the injury to centre-back Branthwaite, the Everton manager said: “No [news yet]. I’m worried, though. We’ve not had any results.”

Liverpool also saw a player taken off on a stretcher after goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was hurt trying to stop Beto from equalising.

Third-choice Freddie Woodman was brought on as Alisson Becker remains absent, with the Georgia international’s injury coming at the end of a week that saw Hugo Ekitike rupture an Achilles against Paris St Germain.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said: “Giorgi had to go to hospital [with] a big wound so let’s see how he will be.

“But Freddie deserves a lot of credit because you have to come in after conceding the 1-1 and the fans were ready for it, but he did his job really well.