Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says he will instruct his players to “go down” after they were denied a penalty in a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday. Multiple outlets report his comments after referee Andy Madley and VAR waved away Liverpool’s appeals following a foul involving Alexander Isak in the box.
According to the reports, Isak’s shirt was pulled by Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber as Isak tried to latch onto a cross in the first half. Iraola says he is confused or frustrated that Isak was not awarded a penalty, and in some accounts he frames the decision as requiring players to be more decisive in order to earn penalties.
Across coverage, outlets largely agree on the match result, the incident type (a shirt-pull denial involving Isak and Timber), and Iraola’s intention to change future conduct. The main differences are the prominence of Liverpool’s “furious” reaction and whether the emphasis is on the referee decision itself or on the tactical message Iraola says he will give his players.
