Dominik Szoboszlai expressed his dissatisfaction with the referee's decision in Liverpool's match against Arsenal. The midfielder believes his team should have been awarded a penalty after Jurriën Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in the area.
The incident occurred in the second half of Sunday’s fixture. After a dangerous cross from Bradley Barcola, Isak jumped to attempt a header on goal but was held back by Timber, preventing him from reaching the ball.
Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty. The VAR team led by Stuart Attwell also chose not to intervene, deeming the contact insufficient to penalise Arsenal.
Szoboszlai: "It’s a penalty"
After the match, Szoboszlai did not hide his disappointment and expressed confidence that the referee should have pointed to the spot.
"It’s a penalty. I don't know what they're expecting from us — that we should fall down or something like that? I don’t think we’re that kind of team and those kind of players, but perhaps now we’ll have to do it."
If Alex had fallen, it would have been a clear penalty. Timber wasn’t particularly focused on the ball, and maybe if he hadn't pulled Alex's shirt, he would have been able to score."
"We simply missed one penalty, and that makes a big difference. If we had gone ahead at 1-0, you know Anfield, you know our capabilities. I understand Arsenal are a great team, but it would have been difficult for them to come back," said the midfielder.
However, Szoboszlai emphasised that simulation does not align with Liverpool’s style of play. He does not believe it is right to intentionally seek contact with an opponent and fall at the first opportunity.
"That’s not our style of play. I don’t think in that moment you can think, ‘I’ll wait until someone touches me and then fall,’" added the Hungarian footballer.
Debate over the VAR decision
Szoboszlai also noted that everyone may interpret such incidents differently, but in this case, he believes there was little room for doubt.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also criticised the VAR’s performance. He agreed that the officials’ decision was incorrect and acknowledged he wouldn’t have disputed a penalty awarded to Liverpool.
The incident became one of the main talking points after the match. For Liverpool, the decision was particularly painful given the match's significance: the team remains in fifth place, while Arsenal continues to compete for the top spot in the Premier League.
