Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has criticised Premier League refereeing standards, insisting that players may have to deliberately go to ground to win penalties after his side were denied a spot-kick during their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield.
The Spanish manager expressed his frustration after referee Andy Madley and video assistant referee Stuart Attwell refused to award Liverpool a first-half penalty despite an apparent shirt pull on striker Alexander Isak by Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber.
Iraola argued that Isak’s decision to remain on his feet rather than fall to the ground following the contact ultimately worked against Liverpool, suggesting that referees are increasingly overlooking fouls when players attempt to continue playing.
Speaking after Sunday’s Premier League encounter, the Liverpool manager admitted that he would encourage his players to go down in similar situations if that was what it took to attract the attention of match officials.
“It’s a shame you ask me this question, but honestly, yes, we have to tell them, go down, because they’re not going to call it otherwise,” Iraola said.
He further questioned the inconsistency in refereeing decisions, pointing out that officials frequently complain about players exaggerating contact and going to ground too easily, yet appear reluctant to award penalties when players remain on their feet.
“And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don’t go down, you don’t call it. Then it’s like, no, you are all the time going down,” he added.
The controversy occurred during Liverpool’s meeting with Arsenal at Anfield, where the hosts were searching for an equaliser after falling behind to Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute goal.
Liverpool had an opportunity to restore parity when Bradley Barcola delivered a cross into the penalty area, with Isak moving towards the ball in an attempt to connect with a header.
However, as the Swedish forward attempted to reach the delivery, Timber appeared to pull his shirt, disrupting his movement and preventing him from making contact with the ball.
Despite the apparent infringement, Isak managed to remain on his feet and continued attempting to reach the ball rather than going to ground.
Referee Madley allowed play to continue, while VAR official Stuart Attwell reviewed the incident but did not recommend an on-field review or overturn the original decision.
Iraola strongly disagreed with the outcome, maintaining that the contact was sufficient to warrant a penalty regardless of whether the affected player fell.
“The Isak one is a clear penalty. He’s going to head the ball in front of the goal, and they grab him,” the Liverpool manager explained.
He further suggested that Isak’s honesty and determination to continue playing had placed his team at a disadvantage.
“If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100%. It should be like this, but it is what it is. Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won’t call it,” Iraola said.
The Liverpool boss also praised Isak for attempting to play through the contact instead of exaggerating the incident to influence the referee’s decision.
He subsequently made his position even clearer, declaring that players might have to resort to going down deliberately to receive decisions in their favour.
“The answer is you have to dive. If you don’t dive, they are not going to call it,” he added.
The incident was not Liverpool’s only penalty appeal during the encounter, as Cody Gakpo also went down following a challenge involving Arsenal defender Christos Tzolis.
However, Iraola appeared more understanding of the decision not to award a penalty in that situation, acknowledging that the ball was too far away for Gakpo to reach.
Nevertheless, he maintained that the explanation for rejecting the Gakpo appeal made the decision involving Isak even more difficult to understand.
The defeat represented another frustrating afternoon for Liverpool, who struggled to convert their attacking pressure into a goal against Arsenal’s organised defensive display.
Havertz’s first-half strike proved decisive, giving Mikel Arteta’s side a 1-0 victory and their first Premier League win at Anfield in 14 years.
The result also ended Liverpool’s five-match winning run across all competitions, while Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League table.
Beyond the result, however, the penalty controversy became one of the biggest talking points, with Iraola’s comments raising fresh questions about the standard and consistency of officiating in English football.
His criticism also highlights a growing concern surrounding the behaviour of players inside the penalty area, where the distinction between genuine fouls and exaggerated contact continues to generate debate.
For Iraola, the situation presents an uncomfortable reality for managers who want their players to remain honest and focus on playing football rather than attempting to influence refereeing decisions.
His message was clear: if players who stay on their feet are not rewarded when fouled, managers may eventually have little choice but to encourage them to go to ground.
