Andoni Iraola watches on during Liverpool's Premier League match against Arsenal at Anfield.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Liverpool were left to rue a lack of creativity against Arsenal on Sunday after failing to record a single shot on target.
The Reds could certainly have done more to make the Gunners suffer in their own box having put them under pressure throughout much of the game, but for all of their shortcomings, they will still point to a refereeing decision as being the key turning point in the match.
Alexander Isak should have had a penalty after being pulled back by Jurrien Timber as he went up for a header. The decision was about as clear as they come, with pundits across the board in agreement that Liverpool had been cruelly denied an obvious spot-kick. Man United legend Peter Schmeichel had some strong words for the officials, claiming that the Reds had been ‘cheated’ at Anfield.
Liverpool have a LOT of attacking options and someone has to miss out 👀 What front three would you select?
No he definitely isn’t. Way better output though, so I’m taking him!
But, as Liverpool's best front three it is Gakpo, Isak, Barcola for sure
Don't know the exact context of Richards' words, but Gakpo isn't exactly as 'electrifying' the other three no?
Liverpool were cheated out of a penalty
Although he was frustrated by his team’s lack of impetus in the final third on Sunday, Andoni Iraola will also feel that Liverpool deserved something from the match.
In the face of a sturdy Arsenal defence, the Reds just needed a little bit of luck, and it should have arrived when Timber made the decision to pull Isak back. As Schmeichel told Viaplay after the game, it was baffling that VAR did not choose to overturn referee Andy Madley’s call.
“Why do we have to talk about it? Why don’t they see it? We see it in real time, like 70 yards away,” fumed the former goalkeeper.
“Why can’t they see it? I think Liverpool got cheated, especially on the Isak one.”
READ MORE: John Barnes knows the reason why Bradley Barcola struggled vs Arsenal
Coming from a man as steeped in anti-Liverpool sentiment as a storied former United player of eight years, that is about as strong as it gets.
Standing alongside him on the Anfield touchline, former Arsenal hero Freddie Ljunberg also agreed, admitting that his old team had gotten away with a big one.
“That one is clear, they missed that the refereeing team,” Ljungberg said. “I thought sometimes the ref made very strange decisions. I thought he was quite poor in his refereeing. But that, with VAR, that can’t be missed. It’s a blatant penalty.”