Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Gary Neville launched a scathing criticism of one of the Premier League’s newest rules after Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez was forced to spend a minute on the sidelines following a head clash against Arsenal.
Kerkez was left clutching his head after a collision with Kai Havertz, resulting in referee Andy Madley blowing the whistle.
The Hungarian left-back then got to his feet without requiring treatment but as per a rule introduced this season, Kerkez was required to leave the pitch for a minute.
The rule is supposed to discourage players going down injured to waste time – but with Liverpool at that point trailing the game 1-0 with 20 minutes to go, it made no sense Kerkez would have been trying to run down the clock.
As a result, Liverpool were left a man down for a minute of Arsenal pressure, put at a disadvantage because their player suffered a completely legitimate injury.
“It’s absolute nonsense,” Neville said, pointing out the holes in such a rule. “It’ll cost a team in a big game at some point.”
With Kerkez left waiting for the referee to signal him back on, an irate Neville added: “It’s a joke!
Dominik Szoboszlai, who came on as a substitute 10 minutes earlier, was forced to fill in at left-back while Kerkez was on the touchline.
Liverpool’s medical staff saw no reason to bring Kerkez off following the head injury, though the 22-year-old would be substituted before full-time, replaced by Kostas Tsimikas in the 81st minute.
