Liverpool penalty denied by VAR after 'clumsy' Arsenal star ran huge risk

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Liverpool's Florian Wirtz felt he should have been awarded a penalty after being barged by Leandro Trossard, and Gary Neville feels the Arsenal star may have got lucky

Florian Wirtz reacts after being denied a penalty against Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool was denied a penalty during the second half of its clash against Arsenal after a VAR check - although Gary Neville believes the Gunners may have got lucky with the decision.

With the game at the Emirates Stadium still goalless, Florian Wirtz embarked on a mazy run inside the Arsenal penalty area, and almost found a way through before he was barged over by Leandro Trossard.

The Liverpool forward appealed for a penalty, but saw his immediate protestations turned down as the Arsenal defenders tried to pick him up off the floor, with Wirtz left astonished by the decision from referee Anthony Taylor.

The game was subsequently delayed as VAR reviewed the incident, before eventually confirming Taylor’s decision - although former Manchester United captain Neville was far from convinced.

Commentating over replays of Trossard’s challenge as the VAR underwent the review, Neville said: “I thought it was clumsy actually.

“I mean, Trossard steps across him. There might not be enough in it, but he takes a real chance.

“It’s not great from Trossard, not great at all. I think he could be in trouble.”

Gary Neville felt Arsenal was lucky not to concede a penalty against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Just as Neville gave that verdict though, Taylor was instructed to continue play, with Neville summarising: “What a risk from Trossard that was.”

It was the second time in the game that Liverpool felt it should have been awarded a penalty. During the first-half, Jeremie Frimpong saw his own shouts for a spot-kick turned down after a challenge from Piero Hincapie.

Replays showed Frimpong’s foot getting caught in the turf at the same moment that Hincapie caught the Liverpool winger.

Fears were raised that Frimpong may have suffered an injury to his ankle, while the shouts for a penalty were waved away. Arsenal immediately went down the other end of the pitch and won a corner, leading to angry scenes as Frimpong remained down in the opposite penalty area.

Virgil van Dijk clashed with Arsenal’s Declan Rice, with the Liverpool captain seemingly arguing that the game should have been halted for Frimpong to receive treatment, although he could have also been making a case for his side to have been awarded a penalty.

Neville though dismissed the Red’ calls in no uncertain terms. Reviewing whether Frimpong should have been awarded a penalty, the former defender bluntly said: “No. It’s not.”