Liverpool fans condemned referee Andy Madley following the 0-1 defeat to Arsenal. Their discontent intensified after footage from half-time showed the referee laughing and chatting with Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Declan Rice. However, there is no evidence of any bias from Madley.
The main contentious moment occurred in the first half when Jurriën Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in the penalty area, preventing him from reaching a cross from Bradley Barcola.
Madley did not award a penalty, and VAR also failed to intervene.
This is why the footage from the players' tunnel elicited a particularly sharp reaction from some Liverpool fans. One supporter wrote that the referee "clearly chose a favourite", while another stated that referees should not joke with players from either team during the match.
Andoni Iraola was confident that his team deserved the penalty after the match:
There were two episodes, and they are somewhat related. The moment with Isak is a clear penalty.
He is about to head the ball, and he gets grabbed, and everyone can see how his shirt stretches. You don't need much for that — just a little obstruction against Alex, because the ball is coming right in front of him.
I don’t understand why a penalty wasn’t given. Perhaps because he didn’t dive or fall. But that shouldn’t be a reason not to award a penalty.
Iraola also recalled a similar incident involving Cody Gakpo:
We were told the ball was too far away and Cody wouldn’t have got there anyway. But then, in essence, you acknowledge that the first incident is a penalty, don’t you?
You can’t use one argument in two similar situations differently. Therefore, yes — I believe the incident with Alex was a penalty.
This is a problem with our football. Penalties are not given because he doesn’t fall.
The mere fact that you ask me if he should have dropped shows a lot. If he had fallen, a penalty would have definitely been given.
It shouldn’t be like this, but it is what it is. Next time, coaches will have to tell Alex to fall, or else there won’t be a whistle.
When asked if he would indeed give Isak that advice, Iraola replied:
Yes, definitely.
Virgil van Dijk also disagreed with the decision:
I think it was an obvious penalty. I reviewed the incident and saw penalties being awarded for less. It didn’t happen today.
We have 50 cameras. Why should he complain when there are that many cameras?
Everyone saw what happened. In the end, a penalty wasn’t given, we lost, so congratulations to Arsenal.
Jamie Carragher was also outraged by the lack of VAR intervention:
A top goalscorer gets pulled back by his shirt seven yards from goal, hindering him from heading the ball.
Why should he have to make a fuss? VAR, do your job.
Arsenal won thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz and moved to the top of the league with 24 points, while Liverpool remained in fifth place.
