Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been warned ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton that his continual berating of match officials will not help his team's cause.
Referees' chief Mike Riley and his members are angered by Rodgers continuing to claim his club are victimised by officials, regarding it as a tactic to seek an advantage.
Ahead of the crunch match at Goodison Park, the Liverpool boss has defiantly repeated his frustrations over the way his club's games are officiated, sarcastically remarking he would have to take a holiday when his striker Luis Suarez got a decision in his favour.
'Brendan Rodgers isn't the first manager to try it on,' said a referees' source.
'He has been reminded that Kenny Dalglish did the same thing as Liverpool manager last season and it didn't work for him.
'It won't work for Brendan, either. There have been phone calls which have relayed that message. It is pretty clear.'
Premier League referees, who are looked after by Professional Game Match Officials Limited, are becoming increasingly resentful at the way they believe they are being used as scapegoats by managers for poor results.