Andoni Iraola reacts after Alexander Isak penalty denied at Anfield
Andoni Iraola said players may have to go down in the box after Liverpool were denied two penalty claims against Arsenal at Anfield.
Andoni Iraola has responded to the Alexander Isak penalty denied incident after Liverpool had two appeals turned down during Arsenal’s Premier League win at Anfield. Arsenal were beaten by Kai Havertz’s early strike, with the match described as their first win at Anfield for 14 years.
Referee Andy Madley dismissed both Liverpool penalty claims. The second incident, involving Cody Gakpo and Christos Tzolis, was reviewed by video assistant referee Stuart Attwell but was also rejected.
Iraola says players may have to go down
Iraola’s reaction centred on the first penalty appeal, when Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber was involved in a shirt-pull on Isak. The contact prevented the Sweden international from reaching Bradley Barcola’s cross, but no penalty was awarded.
‘We have to tell them to go down’
Andoni Iraola also said:
‘if you don’t go down, you don’t call it’
The comments placed the focus on a familiar refereeing debate: whether players are more likely to win a decision when they fall after contact inside the penalty area. In this case, Isak was denied a penalty after the shirt-pull as Liverpool’s first appeal was waved away.
Two Liverpool penalty claims dismissed by Andy Madley
Liverpool’s first appeal came when Timber’s shirt-pull stopped Isak from reaching Barcola’s delivery. Madley did not point to the spot, leaving Liverpool frustrated by a decision that became one of the central talking points of the match.
The second claim involved a hold by Christos Tzolis on Cody Gakpo. That incident went to VAR, with Stuart Attwell reviewing the challenge before the original decision was upheld.
Madley ultimately dismissed both Liverpool appeals. The first did not bring a penalty, and the second remained no penalty after the VAR check.
Havertz strike settles Arsenal’s Anfield win
On the scoreboard, Kai Havertz’s early strike proved decisive for Arsenal. The result was described as Arsenal’s first win at Anfield for 14 years, adding significance to a match already dominated by major penalty talking points.
The match also included a poor clearance from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Alongside Havertz’s goal and the two penalty decisions, it formed part of a tense contest in which fine margins shaped the outcome.
Refereeing decisions remain the focus
The discussion after the match is centred on Madley’s decisions, Attwell’s VAR review and Iraola’s view that players may need to go down to make contact clear. For Liverpool, the frustration comes from two dismissed penalty claims in a match settled by a single early goal.