Liverpool, Everton and Man United trio are the ‘biggest divers in the Premier League’
Mo Salah, Jack Grealish and Bruno Fernandes are the three Premier League players who dive the most to win their side a free-kick or penalty.
That is the verdict of Football Insider creator Ollie Farrow, who has picked out the trio as those who he believes are most culpable for trying to deceive top-flight referees.
All three players have long been accused of diving to the ground or making too much of tackles from opponents to try to make a decision go in their favour.
Mo Salah‘s quick feet always makes him a target for tough tackles, and the same goes for Jack Grealish, who wins fouls with ease, while Bruno Fernandes‘ passion and will to win has seem him take tumbles on numerous occasions.
Farrow says attacking trio are the worst Premier League divers
Speaking exclusively on Football Insider’s Final Whistle show, when asked by host Georgia Banks who he believes are the worst divers in the top-flight, Farrow was quick to name Salah and Grealish.
He said: “I think Mo Salah has had quite a few where he has been dribbling, (and goes down) because of his technique, but then also I think Jack Grealish.
“He’s known for his diving, going down on the floor, so I think I’m going to edge it to Grealish, for me.“
Banks then suggested Portugal international Fernandes, to which Farrow replied: “He’s definitely up there, he likes to dive and is a bit of a moaner as well, I find.”
Keith Hackett calls for harsher sanctions for player simulation
Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett previously told Football Insider that Premier League referees have to be more consistent when it comes to penalising potential simulation, as players are not being booked if a penalty is overturned after they have dived to get it.
Speaking on the Final Whistle show, he admitted that laws and punishments around diving and simulation need to be changed and made into a much bigger issue.
He said: “I think this is a serious problem in the game that needs to be highlighted more.
“Acts of simulation, I can understand it where a player is in the area and he gets a touch, too many are going down quickly.
“It’s a nightmare for the referee, I’m telling you, making those judgements as to whether, in fact, it is a dive or if it is actually a foul.“