Liverpool handed Florian Wirtz penalty verdict after Arsenal decision

Gary Neville has delivered a clear verdict on the controversial penalty incident involving Florian Wirtz during Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal, using it to highlight what he sees as growing inconsistency and confusion around VAR and handball decisions in the Premier League.

The flashpoint came when Wirtz went down in the Arsenal box under pressure, prompting loud Liverpool appeals for a penalty. The on-field referee initially allowed play to continue and, after a brief VAR check, the decision stood with no spot-kick awarded. Neville, on co‑commentary duty, argued that, under the way penalties have been given this season, Liverpool had a strong case and that many similar incidents have resulted in spot-kicks.

He contrasted the Wirtz episode with other recent decisions that have gone in Arsenal’s favour, suggesting that teams now struggle to understand where the threshold lies for contact, obstruction and handball inside the area. Neville stressed that, while he personally prefers a higher bar for awarding penalties, the application of the laws must at least be consistent across games and clubs.

The incident fed into a wider debate about VAR’s role and whether it is correcting “clear and obvious” errors or instead adding another layer of subjectivity. Neville questioned why some seemingly softer offences are upgraded to penalties after review, while a challenge like the one on Wirtz is effectively dismissed, even though slow‑motion replays appeared to show sufficient contact to justify a foul under current interpretations.

For Liverpool, the non‑decision added to a sense of frustration after a tight, high‑stakes game, with supporters feeling that such marginal calls can shape the title race. Neville concluded that until there is a more transparent and uniform standard for penalty and VAR interventions, controversies like the Wirtz incident will continue to dominate post‑match discussion.