Liverpool followers are fuming after referee Andy Madley laughed and joked with Arsenal’s stars at half-time of their conflict on Sunday – having denied them a penalty.
The Gunners claimed their first victory at Anfield since September 2012 due to Kai Havertz’s objective, with the win sending Mikel Arteta’s facet three factors away from Manchester Metropolis.
However Reds supporters got here away fuming after being denied a seeming stonewall penalty within the first half when Jurrien Timber tugged again Alexander Isak.
Isak had a golden probability to equalise when he rose to fulfill Bradley Barcola’s cross, solely to overlook the ball after having his shirt pulled by Timber.
The Arsenal defender averted punishment from Madley and VAR determined towards intervening regardless of the vehement protests of Andoni Iraola and his gamers.
It was subsequently additional galling for Liverpool followers to see the referee showing to inform a joke to Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Declan Rice at half-time – although in fact the encounter may have been completely harmless.
Liverpool followers are fuming after referee Andy Madley was caught laughing and joking with Arsenal’s gamers – having denied the Reds a penalty
Liverpool had been denied a penalty after Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak’s shirt
Followers declare Madley should not have been cracking jokes with the Premier League champions
A part of refereeing, in any case, is sustaining a relationship with gamers.
However for Liverpool it’s one other twist of the knife after a painful defeat which noticed them fail to attain from 18 photographs and left them fifth within the Premier League.
‘This referee clearly had a favorite. Liverpool acquired robbed in broad daylight,’ one fan stated on X.
‘At any stage of the sport from Sunday pub league to Premier League, referees should not be laughing and joking and high-fiving gamers on any facet. They need to flip up, ref neutrally, go house,’ one other stated.
‘He mustn’t ref any extra Arsenal video games,’ one added.
There is no such thing as a proof that Madley is biased in direction of the Premier League champions.
Sky Sports activities pundits Jamie Carragher, Daniel Sturridge and Ian Wright unanimously agreed Liverpool ought to have been awarded a penalty at half-time and urged that Isak was denied the spot-kick as a result of he did not make extra of the incident.
Iraola thinks the sport may have gone otherwise had Madley not missed Timber’s shirt pull.
The Liverpool boss stated after the match: ‘There are two conditions and they’re just a little bit associated. The Isak one is a transparent penalty.
‘He is gonna head the ball in entrance of the objective, they usually seize him the place everybody sees the shirt. You do not want loads, simply to keep away from Alex, as a result of the ball simply goes in entrance of him, and I do not see the rationale why, in all probability as a result of he would not dive or he would not go to the ground. It should not be a motive to not concede a penalty.’
Liverpool had been irate as they misplaced to Arsenal at house for the primary time since September 2012
Iraola additionally pointed to an analogous scenario the place Cody Gakpo was tugged again, however the officers stated the Dutchman wouldn’t get to the ball.
‘They are saying the ball was too lengthy and Cody would not have arrived to the ball, however you then’re principally accepting that the primary one is, is a pen, no?’ added Iraola. ‘So you can not use the argument in each methods otherwise. So I feel it is a, sure, it is a pen, the Alex one is.’
Talking to Sky Sports activities after the match, the supervisor stated: ‘It is an issue we now have with the sport. As a result of he would not dive and go to the ground. The truth that you’re even asking me if he ought to go to the ground, if he goes to the ground, they name the penalty 100 per cent.
‘It must be like this however it’s what it’s. Subsequent time, the managers ought to inform Alex to go to the ground, in any other case they will not name it.’
Requested if he’ll inform Isak to try this in future, the Spaniard replied: ‘Sure, positively.’
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk took purpose at VAR too after the match, expressing his disappointment on the defeat.
‘I feel it was a transparent penalty. I’ve seen it again and I’ve seen it being given. In the present day it wasn’t meant to be,’ he stated.
Requested if Isak ought to have reacted extra, the Dutchman added: ‘We’ve 50 cameras. Why does he must complain when there are such a lot of cameras?
‘Everybody has seen it. Ultimately it wasn’t given and we lose the sport sadly, so properly finished to Arsenal.’
Former Liverpool defender Carragher was livid that VAR had not intervened as he analysed the incident at half-time.
‘Top-of-the-line goal-scorers within the league is pulled again seven yards from objective, and the pull again stops him heading the ball. Why does he must make a meal of it? VAR, do your job,’ he stated bluntly.
Arsenal moved to the highest of the desk on 24 factors with victory at Anfield, whereas Liverpool remained fifth after Brighton and Chelsea, who’re third and fourth respectively, each received on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta hailed his facet’s resilience to win at Anfield.
Requested if it feels higher to take action as a participant or supervisor, he stated: ‘Now it feels higher as a supervisor, it has been such a very long time with out this sense. We’re extraordinarily proud, particularly the situations we arrived in after the defeat towards Fleetwood regarded like the top of the world.
‘However then it’s important to decide your self up. 4 days later it’s important to come to Anfield towards this supervisor and this crew.’
