Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk criticised the VAR officials following his side's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, insisting that a penalty should have been awarded to Alexander Isak. The Premier League champions took the lead through Kai Havertz's first-half goal, leaving the Reds to rue two first-half penalty appeals that were waved away by referee Andy Madley and the VAR.
The most contentious moment came when Arsenal's Jurrien Timber appeared to pull Isak's shirt as the striker attempted to reach a cross from Bradley Barcola. Gary Neville, speaking as a pundit, said he was certain it was a penalty and appeared shocked that Isak did not protest the decision.
Van Dijk's Frustration
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Van Dijk said: "It was a clear penalty on Isak. It's a penalty but today it wasn't meant to be."
When a reporter suggested Isak should have made more of a fuss to alert the referee, Van Dijk responded sharply: "VAR doesn't notice it? There are 50 cameras. Why does he have to complain when there's so many cameras? Everyone has seen it. At the end of the day, it wasn't given so congratulations to Arsenal."
Carragher and Iraola Weigh In
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also expressed his anger at the decision, arguing that VAR had failed in its duty. He said: "One of the best goal scorers in the league is pulled back seven yards out and it stops him heading the ball - why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR do your job."
Manager Andoni Iraola used his post-match press conference to voice his frustration over several decisions, suggesting that Isak might have needed to go to ground to win the penalty. He said: "There is a clear grab [of] the shirt. Alex [Isak] was just in front of him, he was going to head in front of the goal but couldn't because he had the shirt.
"I don't understand why they didn't call it, probably because he has not gone to the floor. I think the [Cody] Gakpo one was not a penalty but the Alex one he was going to head the ball in front of the goalkeeper. He grabbed the shirt. I don't understand why it wasn't called.
"You have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it. That's the problem we have with the game. Because he doesn't dive and go to the floor. The fact that you are even asking me if he should go to the floor, if he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100 per cent."
