Andoni Iraola said he was "very upset" after a controversial penalty decision cost Liverpool a clean sheet in their 3-1 win at Crystal Palace. The Reds moved fourth in the Premier League heading into the international break thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, before Eddie Nketiah scored from the spot in injury time.
Penalty decision under scrutiny
The consolation goal came after Milos Kerkez was penalised following a clash of heads with Dario Osorio in the box. Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot after both players attempted to head a bouncing ball, and his call was confirmed by VAR Michael Salisbury. Nketiah then beat Alisson from 12 yards.
Iraola was also angry last weekend after Isak was not given a penalty in the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal for a shirt-pull by Jurrien Timber, and he made his case again on Sunday.
Iraola's frustration
"I am very upset because the ones in our box they are calling penalties and in the other box they are not. I know we are 3-0 and it's the 95th minute but I'm very upset," he told Sky Sports. "It's a head to head but even then it's Osario to Milos. It's a clash of heads. You can say it's 3-0 but, for me, there is more because it is not the first time this season and you compare... I'm really upset."
He added: "The VAR took a lot of time. When you call a penalty and they are two minutes. Two repetitions, three repetitions, they are finding a way not to be called by the VAR. A clean sheet is not cheap in the Premier League and we wanted to win 3-0. It is not just because of this penalty, it's because of a lot of things."
Match details and impact
Liverpool took the lead through Mac Allister's flicked header at the near post before Wirtz tucked in Bradley Barcola's cutback on the break for 2-0. Isak then buried his seventh Premier League goal in nine appearances to make the points safe.
But Liverpool's fifth clean sheet in the league this season was not forthcoming as Kerkez was penalised and Nketiah beat Alisson with his penalty into the corner. "It was an important win for us going into the international break after the week we've had," Iraola added. "Also, we arrived very late Thursday night from Turkey so - I know they also played - it was important to finish with a win. First half we struggled a little bit defensively but after we closed the game quite well even if I'm a little bit upset with the last penalty."
