Szoboszlai Questions Iraola’s Order for Isak to Dive After Anfield Defeat

• Dominik Szoboszlai asked what Liverpool are expected to do, “to dive or something?”, after no penalty was given for Jurrien Timber’s shirt pull on Alexander Isak, per Guardian.
• Andoni Iraola said after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield that he will tell Isak to go to the floor next time.
• Liverpool did not register a shot on target at Anfield, a first in a Premier League home game in the records Opta holds, which start in 2003-04.

Liverpool’s Midfielder Says Diving Is Not Their Style, For Now

Dominik Szoboszlai has a question for anyone who thinks Liverpool should have gone to ground at Anfield. “I don’t know what they expect from us, to dive or something?” the midfielder said. “I don’t think we are the type of team or players to do that but from now on we might need to do it.”

He was responding to his own manager. Iraola had said Isak will be told to hit the deck in future after Timber pulled the striker’s shirt in the 21st minute and referee Andy Madley waved play on. Szoboszlai believes the game turned on that moment, and that little separated the two teams.

The Pull That Started It

Kai Havertz had put Arsenal ahead in the 16th minute. Five minutes later Isak rose to meet a cross from Bradley Barcola, only to miss the ball after Timber tugged him back. Madley gave nothing and VAR did not step in. VAR judged it a small hold that would not change the game.

Half-time analysts did not see it that way. Jamie Carragher, Daniel Sturridge and Ian Wright all said it was a penalty, and Sturridge added that “if Isak makes more of it then it’s a penalty”.

Iraola called the Isak incident a clear penalty and said Isak was grabbed where everyone could see the shirt. He put the missed call down to Isak staying on his feet. “Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won’t call it,” he said. Asked if he will actually tell Isak to do it, he replied: “Yes, definitely.”

What Szoboszlai Said Next

Szoboszlai is not ready to follow that advice. “I don’t think in this moment you can think: ‘Oh, let me wait for someone touching me and I’ll fall down,'” he said. “No, Alex is focusing on the ball and he wants to head the ball in the net.”

He then put the blame on the defender. “Timber doesn’t really care about the ball and maybe if he doesn’t pull Alex’s shirt Alex can head it in the goal,” Szoboszlai said. He also pointed to the margin between the sides: “We are just one penalty less and that’s a big difference.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk, asked if Isak should have reacted more, kept the focus on the officials. “We have 50 cameras. Why does he have to complain when there are so many cameras?” he said. He also said: “I think it was a clear penalty.”

A Bigger Argument Than One Pull

Arsenal moved top on 24 points, with Liverpool fifth. It was the champions’ first league win at Anfield in 14 years, and the home crowd was angry about more than the Isak moment. The Kop fumed at how Arsenal won free kicks, and Arsenal’s players were also guilty of going down too easily at times. David Raya was booked for time wasting in the 92nd minute as the visitors saw the game out.

That is the backdrop for the new line from Liverpool. Iraola has already explained why he benched Isak, and now he wants the striker to learn what wins penalties, while a midfielder in his own squad says Liverpool are not built that way.

Where It Goes From Here

Iraola does not expect a ruling to help, and he has said before that Liverpool must earn the right to belong at Anfield. He said Liverpool will have to wait “10 days or 12” for Pro Ref to give its verdict, “but it is not going to change anything”.

Van Dijk has backed Iraola before and says the change of manager just needs time, adding that he is sure things will click. For now the open question is whether Isak, Szoboszlai and the rest take the instruction literally. Szoboszlai has already said which way he leans, and he left room to change his mind.