Liverpool head into the international break on the back of a win over Crystal Palace, but Andoni Iraola refused to let Palace's late consolation from the penalty spot slide
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts
Andoni Iraola was furious at the decision to give Crystal Palace a penalty(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola was "very upset" after a controversial penalty decision cost Liverpool a clean sheet in victory at Crystal Palace.
Liverpool head into the international break fourth in the Premier League thanks to a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak made sure of the points before Eddie Nketiah netted from the spot in injury time.
The consolation goal for Palace came after Milos Kerkez was penalised following a clash of heads with Dario Osorio in the box. Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot after the clash which occurred while both players tried to head a bouncing ball.
His call was confirmed by VAR Michael Salisbury and Nketiah beat Alisson from 12 yards to get on the scoresheet. Iraola was furious last weekend after Isak was not given a penalty in the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal for a clear shirt-pull by Jurrien Timber and he made his case once again on Sunday.
"I am very upset because the ones in our box they are calling penalties and in the other box they are not. I know we are 3-0 and it's the 95th minute but I'm very upset," he told Sky Sports.
"It's a head to head but even then it's Osario to Milos. It's a clash of heads. You can say it's 3-0 but, for me, there is more because it is not the first time this season and you compare... I'm really upset.
"The VAR took a lot of time. When you call a penalty and they are two minutes. Two repetitions, three repetitions, they are finding a way not to be called by the VAR. A clean sheet is not cheap in the Premier League and we wanted to win 3-0. It is not just because of this penalty, it's because of a lot of things."
Alisson Becker (C) reacts after Crystal Palace's English striker #09 Eddie Nketiah (R) scored on a penalty
Eddie Nketiah tucked away the penalty late on(Image: Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images)
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Liverpool took the lead through Mac Allister's flicked header at the near post before Wirtz tucked in Bradley Barcola's cutback on the break for 2-0. Isak showed a cool head to bury his seventh Premier League goal in nine appearances to make the points safe.
But Liverpool's fifth clean sheet in the league this season was not forthcoming as Kerkez was penalised and Nketiah beat Alisson with his penalty into the corner.
"It was an important win for us going into the international break after the week we've had," Iraola added. "Also, we arrived very late Thursday night from Turkey so - I know they also played - it was important to finish with a win.
"First half we struggled a little bit defensively but after we closed the game quite well even if I'm a little bit upset with the last penalty."
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