Andoni Iraola told Match of the Day that he would instruct his players to dive in future after a penalty‑denied moment in Liverpool’s 1‑0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. The controversy erupted when Jurrien Timber tugged Alexander Isak’s shirt as Isak attempted a header from Bradley Barcola’s cross. Referee Andy Madley judged the contact insufficient for a penalty, a decision upheld by VAR after Stuart Attwell ruled the tug not sustained.
Iraola said, "There is a clear grab of the shirt. If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100%. It should be like this, but that’s how it is. Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor; otherwise, they won’t call it." He added that managers must tell players to dive if they want a call.
Isak later spoke to Timber but did not appeal. The incident sparked debate among pundits, with former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy and commentator Gary Neville questioning whether Isak should have reacted more. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk defended the referee, noting the abundance of camera angles.
Pro Ref, the Premier League’s refereeing body, has not yet issued an apology, and Iraola said it would not change anything. The match ended with Arsenal’s win, leaving Liverpool to reflect on the missed penalty opportunity.
