Andoni Iraola reacts to 'clear' Liverpool penalty in Arsenal defeat: 'I don't understand'

Iraola criticised referee Andy Madley for not awarding a penalty when Timber pulled Isak's shirt in the 21st minute, saying the striker should not have to go to ground for contact to be penalised.

Liverpool lost 1-0 to Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, with Kai Havertz's goal deciding the match. The result was overshadowed by a controversial penalty decision in the 21st minute when Alexander Isak appeared to be held back by Jurrien Timber as he attempted to connect with a cross. Referee Andy Madley waved away the appeal, and VAR upheld the decision.

Andoni Iraola was adamant the contact warranted a penalty. "The Alex one is a clear penalty," he told Sky Sports. "We can all see that [Timber] holds the t-shirt and the ball just goes one centimetre in front of Alex. Alex is going to hit the ball in front of the goal. So because he does not go to the floor, you are not going to call the penalty? I don't understand it." Iraola added he would tell Isak to go to ground in future, suggesting that diving would have secured the decision.

Virgil van Dijk echoed the frustration, questioning how VAR with "50 cameras" could miss the incident. Liverpool had another penalty appeal rejected earlier when Cody Gakpo went down under a challenge from Christos Tzolis.