Rio Ferdinand disagrees with Gary Neville on Arsenal handball decision vs Liverpool

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Arsenal fell to their first defeat of the season at the hands of Premier League title rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

It was a tight affair, one which was defined by a moment of magic for Dominik Szoboszlai, as he scored the winner with a free-kick from long range.

For Arsenal, it comes as a big blow to their Premier League title hopes, but there is a long season ahead for Mikel Arteta.

Some fine margins went against his side, which may well have included a referee decision late in the game.

• READ MORE: Winners and losers from Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool including William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli

Rio Ferdinand claims Arsenal should’ve had a penalty for handball against Liverpool

Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool was a match of fine margins, one that could’ve been swung based on referee decisions.

There was an opportunity for Jurrien Timber to get a penalty in the first half, which was waved away, despite his protests.

Then, late in the game, there was a shout for handball as a long throw landed onto the arm of Szoboszlai.

A VAR check for it was waved away, but former defender Rio Ferdinand questioned the decision on his YouTube channel.

“That is handball,” he said immediately after the decision.

“If that’s at Old Trafford, that is handball, Szoboszlai has got lucky.”

It may have been a decision that went against Arsenal, but not everyone thought it was a penalty.

One of Ferdinand’s former teammates, Gary Neville, doesn’t seemingly agree with that call.

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer suggests former Arsenal player is the quickest footballer he’s ever seen

Gary Neville believes Arsenal shouldn’t have won a penalty against Liverpool

While Ferdinand believes it was a penalty for Arsenal, Neville didn’t think so.

Speaking on Sky Sports about the decision, he claimed: “I mean, I wouldn’t want it against me, particularly when you’ve got loads of bodies in front of you and you can’t really see it.”

He continued: “I think if he had a clear sight of it and he jumps and hits his arm, I think it’s a penalty, but the fact there are four or five ones in front of him, he comes over the top of them, you can’t see it.”

While Arsenal could feel aggrieved that they didn’t get a bit of luck go their way with the penalty, there is much more to improve upon.

The Gunners will need to create much more to win games in the future, after a tense game at Anfield.