Iraola fumes after Alexander Isak penalty appeal is rejected

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has criticised the refereeing after his side's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield, insisting that Alexander Isak should have been awarded a penalty following a shirt pull by Jurrien Timber.

The incident occurred in the first half when Isak attempted to reach a cross from Bradley Barcola. Timber pulled the Swedish striker's shirt as he prepared to challenge for the ball, but referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR did not intervene.

Iraola described the incident as a clear penalty and suggested that Isak's decision to stay on his feet had worked against him. “The fact that you are even asking me if he should have gone to the floor shows the problem. If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100 per cent,” the Liverpool manager said.

Asked whether he would tell Isak to go down in similar situations in the future, Iraola replied: “Yes, definitely.” He also admitted that Liverpool had not started the game well enough, while praising his players' reaction after conceding Kai Havertz's 16th-minute winner.