Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk launched a stinging attack on VAR after the Reds were denied two penalty claims in their 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal. Kai Havertz's first-half strike proved decisive as the league champions edged out Liverpool at the Emirates.
Two first-half penalty appeals were dismissed by referee Andy Madley and VAR, with the most contentious decision coming when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak by his shirt as the £125million forward attempted to meet a cross from Bradley Barcola.
Van Dijk's Frustration Boils Over
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Van Dijk did not hold back when the incident was raised. He 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 draw the referee's attention, Van Dijk fired back with a series of pointed questions, asking: "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 was equally incensed by the ruling, arguing that VAR had failed to fulfil its fundamental purpose. 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."
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola also used his post-match press conference to vent his frustration over several key calls, suggesting the striker may have needed to go to ground to earn the decision. 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."
Iraola added: "I think the 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 percent."
