Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva pulled Merlin Rohl to the ground inside the box when the score stood at 3-2 to Everton on Monday night
Kiernan Dewsbury Hall took aim at Bernardo Silva's challenge (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Instagram)
Kiernan Dewsbury Hall took aim at Bernardo Silva's challenge (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Instagram)
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Everton star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was quick to slam the failure to award the Blues a penalty when they were 3-2 up against Manchester City in Monday night's chaotic clash, a decision David Moyes says proves that the Premier League is now "an absolute free-for-all" when it comes to contact from set-pieces.
The match was in the 87th minute when Everton - who had come from a goal down to lead 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium thanks to a brace from Thierno Barry and a Jake O'Brien header in an incredible 13-minute burst, only for Erling Haaland to immediately make it 3-2 - forced a corner as they searched for another goal.
Just before the corner was delivered, City captain Bernardo Silva tussled with Merlin Rohl and dragged the Blues midfielder to the ground.
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Referee Michael Oliver didn't give a penalty for the incident, and VAR didn't deem it worthy of a spot kick either.
After Jeremy Doku scored his second goal of the game to equalise for City in the seventh minute of added time, a furious Dewsbury-Hall took to Instagram to point the finger at the Silva challenge.
Posting on his Story, Dewsbury-Hall wrote "Looking at the ball" alongside two images of Silva grappling with Rohl while clearly not looking at the ball. The post was also accompanied by the walk-on music for WWE legend Brock Lesnar.
In a separate post, Dewsbury-Hall also wrote: "Amazing spirit, but gutting. 3 massive games to go."
Speaking about the penalty incident, Everton boss Moyes said: “I've seen it, I've had a look. If that doesn't get given as a penalty then it's an absolute free-for-all from now on.
“I might have to start coaching my defenders how to defend differently completely. It looks like now you're able to sort of grapple and wrestle on the ground if you want.
“I'm absolutely amazed and look, this is on the back of a terrible decision at West Ham when we don't get a penalty there either.
“Hey, that's not the reason why we don't get the result tonight, but I think it's another pointer just to say that I find it really hard that that wasn't given.
“I think most football supporters will find that really difficult that that penalty wasn't given.”
The Blues now sit 10th in the Premier League on 48 points with three games remaining.