Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has said he will instruct his players to go to ground in future after his side were denied a penalty in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield. The incident occurred in the first half with Liverpool trailing to Kai Havertz's goal. Alexander Isak's shirt was pulled by Jurrien Timber as he attempted to head a cross from Bradley Barcola, but Isak stayed on his feet and referee Andy Madley did not award a spot‑kick. VAR official Stuart Attwell ruled there was not enough contact to overturn the decision.
Iraola told Match of the Day: "There is a clear grab of the shirt. Alex was just in front of him, he was going to head in front of the goal but couldn't because he grabbed the shirt. If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100%. Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won't call it. The answer is you have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it." He later confirmed to Sky Sports that he would tell Isak to go down, and in his press conference added: "It's a shame you ask me this question, but honestly, yes, we have to tell them, go down, because they're not going to call it otherwise."
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann said Timber took a huge risk and the decision was on the limit of sustained holding. Ex‑Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy felt Arsenal got lucky and that Isak should have made more of the contact. Gary Neville described Isak's lack of reaction as unnatural for a centre‑forward. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk noted the presence of many cameras and accepted the decision, saying: "Everyone has seen it. In the end it wasn't given and we lose the game unfortunately."
