Andoni Iraola has reignited the debate over the use of VAR in the Premier League after claiming Alexander Isak should have gone to ground to win a penalty in Liverpool's defeat to Arsenal.
The Reds were edged out at Anfield on Sunday, with Kai Havertz's first-half strike separating the sides. The major talking point was a Jurrien Timber challenge on Isak, which denied the hosts a chance to equalise from close range.
VAR under scrutiny after Anfield incident
Replays showed Timber pulled Isak's shirt as the Swede looked poised to head an effort on goal from just seven yards. Isak barely reacted, and VAR allowed the incident to go unpunished despite having the angles to review it.
Iraola claimed a more obvious reaction from Isak would have changed the outcome and told him to dive in future. Jamie Carragher insisted VAR should do their job regardless of a player's reaction.
Mixed opinions on the penalty decision
Referee Andy Madley did not give the decision on the pitch, and the official reasoning for VAR not getting involved was that it was a small hold and non-impactful. The claim was probably not helped by Isak not only staying on his feet but sharing a joke with Timber afterwards.
Opinions among pundits were divided. One view held that the only technology that should be used is that which is not reliant on human calls, such as offside and goalline decisions. Another sided with Carragher, arguing that players cannot bemoan antics one minute and then implore their own players to go down easily the next.
Call for players to be more theatrical
Others agreed with Iraola, noting that unless a player goes down, he is unlikely to get a penalty for a shirt pull or trip. The suggestion was that Isak needs to be as theatrical as possible to highlight why he was unable to connect with a header from close range.
The incident has also raised questions about whether VAR and referees should pay more attention to the challenges that take place rather than the reaction of players. The debate continues over whether the technology has added another layer of human error to the game.
