Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has indicated he will advise his players to dive in future matches after a controversial penalty decision in his team's defeat to Arsenal.

During the match, Alexander Isak's shirt was pulled by Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber as he attempted to head the ball. Despite the clear tug, Isak remained on his feet, and the referee, Andy Madley, did not award a penalty. The VAR official, Stuart Attwell, also determined there was insufficient contact to overturn the decision.

Iraola expressed his frustration with the outcome, stating, "There is a clear grab of the shirt." He added that if Isak had gone to the ground, the penalty would have been awarded. "If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100%," Iraola said. "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."

When asked if he would tell his players to be more theatrical, Iraola responded, "Yes, definitely." He elaborated during his press conference, "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. And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don't go down, you don't call it."

He acknowledged that Isak is an honest player who tried to reach the ball, but emphasized that the shirt pull was evident. The understanding from the match officials was that the contact was minimal and not a sustained holding offense, leading to the play continuing.

Former Premier League referee Darren Cann commented that Timber took a risk by grabbing Isak's shirt and that the incident was borderline. "It's right on the limit. It has to be sustained holding - some will say it was sustained, some will say it wasn't," Cann noted. He also found it unusual that Isak did not appeal for a penalty.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy suggested the incident was a pivotal moment in the game and that Arsenal were fortunate. He agreed that if Isak had made more of the contact, a penalty might have been given.

Liverpool also had another penalty appeal turned away when Cody Gakpo went down in the box under pressure from Christos Tzolis. The match ultimately ended in a defeat for Liverpool.