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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola stated that he will instruct his players to hit the ground inside the penalty box in future matches, following two rejected penalty appeals during a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield.
Penalty Controversy and Referee Decisions
Arsenal secured their first victory at Anfield in 14 years thanks to an early goal from Kai Havertz, which capitalized on a poor clearance by goalkeeper Alisson. However, the match was overshadowed by referee Andy Madley dismissing two penalty claims for Liverpool.
The first incident involved Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber pulling the shirt of Sweden international Alexander Isak to prevent him from reaching a cross by Bradley Barcola. The second incident featured Christos Tzolis holding Cody Gakpo, a challenge that underwent a review by video assistant referee Stuart Attwell but was ultimately rejected.
Isak remained on his feet during the challenge from Timber, a decision Iraola believes worked against his team. When asked if Isak should have gone down in the area, the Liverpool head coach told Sport | The Guardian, “It’s a shame you ask me this question but, honestly, yes, we have to tell them to go down because they’re not going to call it otherwise.”
Iraola added, “And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don’t go down, you don’t call it. I think Alex is honest. He tries to go for the ball, everyone can see live straight away there is a clear, clear pull.”
Inconsistent Rulings Frustrate Liverpool Boss
While Iraola accepted the reasoning behind dismissing the Gakpo penalty appeal, he argued it was inconsistent with the explanation given for the Isak incident. He noted that the Gakpo decision was based on the ball being too long in the air for the player to reach, but pointed out the contradiction in applying different logic to the two situations.
“The Isak one is a clear penalty. He is going to head the ball in front of the goal and they grab him where everyone sees the shirt. The ball just goes in front of Alex and I don’t see the reason why [it isn’t given],” Iraola explained to Sport | The Guardian. He suggested the only reason it was ignored was because Isak stayed on his feet.
Arteta Celebrates Historic Win
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed elation after securing his first win at Anfield in charge of the Gunners, which followed a midweek Carabao Cup exit against Fleetwood. Arteta stated that the victory felt particularly rewarding given the circumstances and the team’s ability to bounce back.
Arteta noted that winning at Anfield was a mission the club had not completed in 14 years due to a combination of psychological factors, on-field quality, and decisions. The result means Arsenal have now won at four away grounds where they failed to secure victories during their title-winning campaign last season.
Upon learning that Arsenal had restricted Liverpool to zero shots on target in a Premier League fixture for the first time in 16 years, Arteta called the statistic incredible and praised his players for successfully denying space and blocking shots against a dangerous opponent.
