Andoni Iraola questions Liverpool refereeing treatment and shares revealing officials chat

Iraola says Liverpool are being treated unfairly by referees, citing an imbalance in fouls conceded (128) versus fouls received (88) this season.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has questioned the officiating his side receives in the Premier League, suggesting there is an imbalance in how they are treated by referees. The Reds have conceded the most fouls in the league this season (128) while receiving the fourth-fewest (88), and have picked up the joint-third most yellow cards (21).

Defending his players as "quite an honest group", Iraola shared that a referee recently complimented Liverpool's behaviour after a match, but stressed that complaints from his side are always genuine. "I feel we are willing obviously, we are a team that wants to press, wants to be intense. But I think the balance, there is a big difference, yes," he said.

Iraola also revealed Liverpool are still awaiting an explanation from Pro Ref over why they were not awarded a penalty for a shirt pull on Alexander Isak in their defeat to Arsenal. He explained the panel's conclusions from the previous gameweek have just been served, and Liverpool's incident will be reviewed within around 10 days.