Iraola Fumes at VAR Over Stoppage-Time Penalty as Liverpool Win at Palace

• Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola criticised a stoppage-time penalty given against Milos Kerkez in a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, per the Mirror.
• The spot-kick, scored by Eddie Nketiah, denied Liverpool a fifth Premier League clean sheet of the season.
• Iraola was also angry a week earlier when Alexander Isak was not given a penalty against Arsenal.

Why a Winning Manager Walked Away Angry

“I am very upset because the ones in our box they are calling penalties and in the other box they are not. I know we are 3-0 and it’s the 95th minute but I’m very upset,” Iraola said after the final whistle at Selhurst Park. Liverpool had just won at Crystal Palace, were fourth in the table and had three points to take into the international break. Their head coach wanted to talk about one decision.

The Clash of Heads

The incident came late on. Kerkez and Palace substitute Dario Osorio went up together for a bouncing ball in the Liverpool box and their heads collided. Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot. VAR Michael Salisbury confirmed the call, and Nketiah beat Alisson from 12 yards.

Iraola did not accept the decision. “It’s a head to head but even then it’s Osario to Milos. It’s a clash of heads. You can say it’s 3-0 but, for me, there is more because it is not the first time this season and you compare… I’m really upset.”

He also took aim at how long the review lasted. “The VAR took a lot of time. When you call a penalty and they are two minutes. Two repetitions, three repetitions, they are finding a way not to be called by the VAR. A clean sheet is not cheap in the Premier League and we wanted to win 3-0. It is not just because of this penalty, it’s because of a lot of things.”

Another Week, Another Officiating Complaint

Iraola had been here before. A week earlier he was furious when Isak was not given a penalty for a shirt-pull by Jurrien Timber in the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at Anfield.

Midweek, after the Champions League loss at Fenerbahce, he had said Liverpool were too honest. This time Liverpool won, and comfortably. Alexis Mac Allister headed them in front from a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, Florian Wirtz tucked in Bradley Barcola’s cutback to make it 2-0, and Isak scored his seventh Premier League goal in nine appearances to settle it. Palace ended the day bottom of the table after a fourth straight league defeat.

A Hard Week and an Anxious Break

Iraola did not hide how the week had felt. “We needed this win, definitely,” he said. “It was important to score first and we controlled the second half.”

He described the week in more detail. “It was an important win for us going into the international break after the week we’ve had,” he said. “Also, we arrived very late Thursday night from Turkey so – I know they also played – it was important to finish with a win. First half we struggled a little bit defensively but after we closed the game quite well even if I’m a little bit upset with the last penalty.”

He singled out his goalkeeper too. Alisson made a string of fine saves, and Iraola said: “Alisson was key for us with some great saves and it’s not just goals with Alex. His movement and his runs were so important.”

Of Alisson’s first-half save at 0-0 he added: “Especially in the first half at 0-0, he had a brilliant intervention. It was massive because, in these types of games, whoever scores first is important. In that moment, he did very well.”

The break brings its own worry. Szoboszlai limped off injured and is a doubt for Hungary. “He did not feel 100 per cent, that’s for sure. Let’s see. He is always desperate to report up for his country. But we will make checks with the medical staff. Last time, we lost three players in the international break and we have to be careful this time.”

He spoke of the same fear elsewhere. “You want to finish with a win. It puts us in a better position but we need to keep improving. Now we are all praying because the last international break we lost three players and now, it is the last thing we need. I hope everything goes well and we don’t lose anyone this time.”

What Iraola Takes Into the Break

Liverpool leave south London with a win, fourth place and a penalty he disputes. The goal does not change the result, and his complaint does not change the decision. His squad now scatters across the world on international duty, and he is hoping every one of them comes back fit.