Gary Neville calls Alexis Mac Allister’s reaction ‘embarrassing’ after Arsenal clash as VAR comments revealed
Gary Neville criticised Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after his clash with Arsenal players. The Argentine appeared upset with Martin Ødegaard and seemed to touch his head before Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke intervened. Madueke and Mac Allister squared up before the Liverpool player went to ground. Timber and Mac Allister were booked,
Gary Neville criticised Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister after his clash with Arsenal players. The Argentine appeared upset with Martin Ødegaard and seemed to touch his head before Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke intervened. Madueke and Mac Allister squared up before the Liverpool player went to ground; Timber and Mac Allister were booked, while Madueke was not punished.
Neville felt Mac Allister’s reaction was exaggerated and called it embarrassing. He also criticised him for touching Ødegaard while he was on the ground. He said the VAR assistant referee reviewed the incident and heard that he did not believe Madueke’s action warranted a red card.
According to a transcript published by the Premier League match centre, VAR Stuart Attwell said all the incidents had been reviewed and closed, and that the contact between Madueke and Mac Allister was not strong, forceful or violent.
Kai Havertz settled the match with a goal in the 16th minute, while Liverpool’s best first-half chance was a Mac Allister header that went over the crossbar. Arsenal defended solidly after the break and did not force David Raya into a save. Liverpool were also not awarded a penalty after an incident in which Timber appeared to impede Alexander Isak as he tried to deal with a cross from Bradley Barcola. Liverpool ended the weekend outside the top four after Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0.