Neville slams 'absolute nonsense' Premier League injury rule as Kerkez sidelined during Liverpool vs Arsenal

Gary Neville launched a sharp attack on one of the Premier League’s newest rules during Liverpool’s match against Arsenal, after defender Milos Kerkez was forced to spend a minute on the touchline following a head collision with Kai Havertz.

Kerkez clashed heads with Havertz, prompting referee Andy Madley to stop play. The Hungarian left-back got to his feet without requiring treatment, but under a rule introduced this season, he was still required to leave the field for a mandatory minute before being allowed to return.

The regulation is designed to discourage players from feigning injury to waste time. However, with Liverpool trailing 1-0 and roughly 20 minutes remaining, there was no conceivable reason Kerkez would have been attempting to run down the clock — making the enforced absence a straight disadvantage for the home side.

“It’s absolute nonsense,” Neville said on commentary, highlighting the rule’s flaws. “It’ll cost a team in a big game at some point.” As Kerkez waited on the touchline for the referee’s signal to return, Neville added: “It’s a joke!”

With Kerkez sidelined, Dominik Szoboszlai — who had come on as a substitute just ten minutes earlier — was required to drop back and cover at left-back during the period of Arsenal pressure.

Liverpool’s medical staff cleared Kerkez to continue after the head injury, though the 22-year-old was ultimately substituted before full time, replaced by Kostas Tsimikas in the 81st minute.