David Moyes has not shied away from expressing his dissatisfaction with recent refereeing decisions affecting Everton, as the team prepares for a challenging visit to Manchester City. The Scotsman, back at the Merseyside club for a second managerial stint, has overseen notable improvements but now faces selection headaches due to suspensions and injuries.
In the run-up to the clash at the Etihad Stadium, Moyes gave a squad update, confirming that Nathan Patterson is a new addition to the injury list. Jack Grealish will be unavailable for City, while Everton will welcome back Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after his suspension. However, Moyes remains upset about the circumstances leading to Dewsbury-Hall’s absence.
Dewsbury-Hall was sidelined for Everton’s recent 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, having received five yellow cards in just six Premier League matches. While such a suspension is standard, the manner in which two of those bookings were awarded has drawn sharp criticism from both the player and his manager.
One contentious moment occurred during a game against West Ham, when Dewsbury-Hall was cautioned despite what appeared to be a fair challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters. Dewsbury-Hall himself described the referee’s call as “mind-boggling.” Another booking came in a loss to Liverpool, this time for taking a quick free-kick, further fueling frustration within the Everton camp.
Providing his perspective at Finch Farm, Moyes did not mince words: “We’ve got Kiernan back after those two ridiculous bookings got him suspended.” The manager’s comments echo a sentiment shared by several observers who felt the decisions were unjust and detrimental to Everton’s campaign.
Support for Moyes came from Keith Hackett, former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, who was unequivocal in his backing. “I fully understand and support David Moyes on his comments today,” Hackett told Goodison News. “What’s he’s said is the truth – it was very poor officiating and yellow cards that were incorrect in application of the law. Dewsbury-Hall was suspended as a result of this and Moyes was unable to make use of him.”
As Everton prepare to face Manchester City, Dewsbury-Hall is expected to reclaim his spot in midfield, flanked by Iliman Ndiaye and Carlos Alcaraz. The episode has reignited debate about the quality of officiating in the Premier League and left Moyes determined to ensure his team is not disadvantaged by questionable decisions in future matches.
