Arsenal left Merseyside with the three points and the loudest talking point. Kai Havertz tapped in a Declan Rice cutback in the 16th minute to seal the Gunners’ first win at Anfield for 14 years, moving them three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The flashpoint arrived in the 79th minute. Mac Allister had just fouled Martin Odegaard and, according to the Sky Sports review, slapped the Arsenal captain on the back of the head. Madueke, already booked in the 55th minute, leaned his forehead towards the Liverpool midfielder. Mac Allister dropped to the floor holding his face. Referee Andy Madley booked Mac Allister. Madueke kept his place on the pitch.
PGMOL: ‘Not forceful, not violent, not brutal’
VAR Stuart Attwell cleared the Arsenal winger. The Premier League Match Centre explanation was blunt.
“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.”
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That verdict found backing from an unlikely corner.
Carragher: ‘This has got to stop’
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher turned on his old club’s midfielder on the Sky Sports Super Sunday panel.
“I want Liverpool to win the game, but I’m delighted he didn’t get sent off. We have really got to be calling people out and saying ‘this is embarrassing’… this has got to stop.”
Carragher argued simulation around head contact had become a deliberate tactic.
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“People are trying to gain an advantage because they can and red cards are being given for it,” he told Sky Sports.
Morgan: ‘Fictitious headbutt’
Arsenal fan and broadcaster Piers Morgan did not wait for the reruns. On X, hours after the final whistle, he posted:
“I do hope Mac Allister recovers from his fictitious headbutt. Poor guy.”
Madueke was unapologetic afterwards. The Arsenal winger told Viaplay that Mac Allister had tried to bait him: “He tried to bait me. It’s neither a yellow nor red card.”
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