Liverpool handed immediate verdicts on two penalty choices vs Arsenal after touchline fury
Liverpool endured a frustrating first half against Arsenal, where they saw not one but two penalty appeals be turned down
Liverpool have been handed an immediate verdict after they had two penalty shouts on Sunday afternoon. The Reds believed they should have been awarded a spot-kick after Alexander Isak was pulled back by Jurrien Timber.
Remarkably, the Swedish striker didn’t even raise a complaint about the incident despite being clearly impeded with Reds boss Andoni Iraola left fuming on the touchline. Gary Neville was adamant this should have been a penalty and couldn’t hide his astonishment that Isak failed to appeal.
He added: “I was really surprised Isak did not make more of it because it was right in my eyeline. I saw it in real time and it’s a clear pull. Why is he not shouting and screaming? He’s almost laughing with Timber over it.
Gary Neville gave his verdict on Sky Sports(Image: 2026 James Gill – Danehouse)
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“He should be absolutely fuming, and going crazy, and trying to get the referee’s attention.”
Neville added: “It’s actually unnatural not to make more of it. When you get pulled and you’re just about to score, you ordinarily complain like crazy. It’s a very odd reaction from Isak.”
At half-time, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was also furious with the decision. He said: “One of the best goalscorers in the league is pulled back seven yards out and it stops him heading the ball. Why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR do your job.”
Cody Gakpo went down under pressure from Christos Tzolis(Image: Premier League)
And that wasn’t the only incident, but Neville believed the referee and VAR were correct to not give Liverpool a penalty for Cody Gakpo’s collision with Arsenal forward Christos Tzolis.
Liverpool were looking to hit back after going 1-0 down, and thought they were going to have a penalty when Tzolis appeared to impede Gakpo in the penalty area.
Referee Andy Madley was instructed to halt the game as VAR looked at the incident, but he was not told to consult the pitch-side monitor. After Liverpool’s penalty appeals were waved away, Neville offered his immediate VAR verdict.
On Sky Sports, he said: “It was clumsy from Tzolis. I don’t think Gakpo would’ve got there. He was well ahead of him. There’s not enough in it. Gakpo knows he’s not going to get there so he goes down.”
