Iraola: Tell Liverpool players to dive for penalties!

Following Liverpool's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal, manager Andoni Iraola has controversially advised his players to simulate fouls by "going down" in the penalty area. This comes after a contentious moment in the match where Alexander Isak's shirt was clearly pulled by Jurrien Timber as he attempted to head a cross. Despite the apparent foul, the referee and VAR did not award a penalty, leading to Iraola's strong reaction. He emphasized that Isak's honesty and attempt to play the ball should not prevent a penalty call.

Iraola also expressed frustration with the team's slow start, which resulted in Alisson's error and Kai Havertz scoring the decisive goal in the 16th minute. Despite conceding early, Iraola lauded his team's response, noting the significant pressure they applied on Arsenal and the numerous clear chances created, including hitting the crossbar and a strong header. He stressed the importance of correcting the team's early-game performance to secure results in close contests.