Liverpool went into the game against Arsenal with four wins in a row. The home supporters filled Anfield with great optimism that the reigning Premier League champions would be sent home to London with a loss. The game was not lacking in excitement, but it ended with only one goal, this one for Arsenal. Had Alexander Isak done what 99 percent of Premier League players did and filled up with some play, the match picture would have been different, Iraola believes.
The Liverpool coach is not the one who screams the loudest in the press conferences after a loss, but has a clear opinion that Isak was too much of a “hockey player” and too little of a Premier League player.
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“If he goes to the ground, they blow a penalty,” Iraola begins to Sky Sports.
There was an episode after twenty minutes, not long after Kai Havertz had put in the 0-1 score for Arsenal, that Jurriën Timber clearly kept Isak in the shirt, which prevented the Swede from reaching a cross.
“The offense is clear. Timber pulled on Isak’s jersey, and everyone saw it. But because Isak didn’t go to the ground, no penalty was given, and that’s something I don’t understand,” Iraola continues.
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Who was asked if Isak should have let himself be torn down to get a penalty.
“That’s the problem we have in football. Because he didn’t pretend to fall, he didn’t get a penalty. If he had gone to the ground, it would have been given 100 percent. That’s what he has to do next time, and coaches have to tell the players that they have to go to the ground,” the Liverpool manager concluded.
