Everton manager David Moyes has complained that Marouane Fellaini does not get enough protection from referees.
The manager saw his side lose 2-1 to Norwich at Carrow Road after Leon Osman's first-half header was overturned by late goals from Kei Kamara and Grant Holt.
Fellaini, the Toffees' top scorer with 10 league goals, was unable to find the back of the net in Saturday’s match, and incurred a bloodied knee after suffering a Bradley Johnson challenge, which did not even result in a free kick.
"I don't think that Fellaini ever gets the protection he deserves," Moyes told reporters.
"I think he's picked on quite regularly because he's noticeable. He very rarely gets looked after."
The defeat means Everton are now six points off the top four, and Moyes conceded that qualifying for the Champions League would now be a difficult task.
"I think it's going to be tough for us," he added.
"But there are a lot of games to go and we have to try to win those games in the run-in."
Everton face Oldham on Tuesday at Goodison Park in their FA Cup fifth-round replay following a 2-2 draw at the League One side earlier in February.
