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Gary Neville has condemned Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister as 'embarrassing' following his involvement in a confrontation against Arsenal. The Argentine appeared displeased with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, seeming to tap the Norwegian on the head, before Timber and Noni Madueke challenged the Reds star over his actions. Madueke went head-to-head with Mac Allister, leaving the latter sprawled on the ground, yet the Englishman escaped punishment.
Both Timber and Mac Allister received yellow cards for their parts in the melee while the video assistant referee checked and cleared the incident. Neville offered little praise for Mac Allister's response. He said: "I don't think Mac Allister needs to go down like that but there's a little nudge with the head. A little inch forward can cost you a lot.
"Mac Allister's reaction is a bit over the top, I can tell you that. Get up. Embarrassing.
"It's Mac Allister's fault because he slaps Odegaard when he's down which is unnecessary. It's the little movement forward of Madueke's head they're looking at.
"I hope they don't go for a red card for it. Well done to VAR because they're recognised that Mac Allister going down is embarrassing.
Neville relayed what he heard from the VAR on commentary: "He [the VAR] said that, but in a posher way."
Stuart Attwell was at Stockley Park as the video assistant referee. In a transcript published by Premier League Match Centre, Attwell concluded that Madueke's conduct during the confrontation was neither forceful nor violent.
He said: "All of the situations have been checked and cleared. There is some contact as Madueke and Mac Allister square-up. In my opinion, it's not forceful, not violent, not brutal."
Kai Havertz's strike on 16 minutes proved the decisive moment as the Premier League champions returned to the summit of the table. Liverpool applied pressure on the hosts with Mac Allister's first-half header representing their finest opportunity, yet he could only direct it over the bar.
The Gunners set about frustrating the hosts in the second half, remaining defensively stubborn to prevent Liverpool from forcing David Raya into a single save throughout the entire contest. The Reds had a compelling penalty appeal waved away after Jurrien Timber appeared to restrain Alexander Isak, hindering his attempt to head a Bradley Barcola cross towards goal.
Liverpool will end the weekend outside the top four following Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Manchester United, which propelled Xabi Alonso's side into the Champions League positions.
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