Everton forward Anthony Gordon has been accused of diving by some fans during the club's Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
The 21-year-old forward was in a footrace with Villa defender Tyrone Mings when the incident took place.
After trying to beat the England international down the right, Gordon flung himself to the ground with 15 minutes on the clock after Mings made contact by lightly brushing his chin.
Holding his head in pain, Gordon stayed on the ground and the referee stopped play.
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But it didn't take long for the official to continue the game after a quick check – a decision that angered Everton manager Frank Lampard.
Social media were quick to comment on the incident.
Back in April, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said the Everton forward was building a reputation in the game for "diving too much".
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After being denied a penalty in last season's Merseyside Derby, Everton demanded a full explanation from the organisation responsible for refereeing standards in the Premier League.
In the 53rd minute at Anfield, Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip appeared to shove Gordon in the back inside the penalty area but referee Stuart Attwell decided against giving a spot-kick and instead waved away protests.
During the clash at Anfield, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher praised Gordon but warned the 21-year-old forward that he may be developing an unwanted reputation for 'diving'.
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"Anthony Gordon has been a revelation since Frank Lampard came in," he told Martin Tyler. "He just jumps over Naby Keita's outstretched leg.
"There's been a tendency of this from Anthony Gordon, in the few games we've seen him. He's frustrated, he can't believe it... but that's crept into his game. He's somebody we've got to keep an eye on now.
"I don't think it was a penalty, the referee was in a great position."
Carragher's former Liverpool teammate Danny Murphy agreed with those comments. He lauded Gordon's ability but again, criticised his 'diving'.
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“People get reputations and he’s diving too much," Murphy said on talkSPORT.
“He’s a great player by the way. I really like him, Anthony Gordon, he’s a super talent, but I’ve watched Everton so much this season and he does dive a lot – and this is within the same game.
“Because he’s got that lovely way about him, he’s got great balance, he can go both ways and he’s got a low centre of gravity, he does get fouled a lot.
“We’ve talked about this with Jack Grealish and they do go over too easily, but the argument is why shouldn’t they? Because if they don’t, you don’t get the penalties or the free-kicks. You can’t win.
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“But, would he have got that penalty if he hadn’t have gone down in the first-half? Maybe yes.
“The fact is, it was a pen,” Murphy added. “Again we talk about referees being able to take each incident in isolation, but that’s just not the way the world works.”
Featured Image Credit: BT SportTopics: Everton, Aston Villa, Premier League
