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Virgil van Dijk pointed the blame at VAR during a tense post-match interview after Liverpool's loss to Arsenal. The Premier League champions edged out the Reds 1-0, courtesy of Kai Havertz's first-half goal. Andoni Iraola's side were left furious after witnessing two first-half penalty claims waved away by both referee Andy Madley and VAR. The most controversial incident occurred when Jurrien Timber grabbed Alexander Isak by his shirt as the £125million striker tried to reach a dangerous cross from Bradley Barcola.
Gary Neville was adamant it was a penalty and appeared visibly shocked when Isak didn't protest or challenge the officials. After the final whistle, Van Dijk directed his anger towards those in the VAR booth.
When the incident was put to Van Dijk, he told Sky Sports: "It was a clear penalty on Isak. It's a penalty but today it wasn't meant to be."
When the reporter suggested Isak should have made more of a fuss to alert the referee to the incident, Van Dijk responded with a string of sharp questions, demanding: "VAR doesn't notice it?
"There are 50 cameras. Why does he have to complain when there's so many cameras? Everyone has seen it. At the end of the day, it wasn't given so congratulations to Arsenal."
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher expressed equal fury over the decision, contending that VAR had neglected its core responsibility.
He said: "One of the best goal scorers in the league is pulled back seven yards out and it stops him heading the ball - why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR do your job."
Iraola similarly utilised his post-match press conference to express his exasperation regarding multiple crucial decisions, implying the forward might have required a theatrical collapse to secure the penalty.
The Reds manager said: "There is a clear grab [of] the shirt. Alex [Isak] was just in front of him, he was going to head in front of the goal but couldn't because he had the shirt.
"I don't understand why they didn't call it, probably because he has not gone to the floor.
"I think the [Cody] Gakpo one was not a penalty but the Alex one he was going to head the ball in front of the goalkeeper. He grabbed the shirt. I don't understand why it wasn't called.
"You have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it. That's the problem we have with the game. Because he doesn't dive and go to the floor. The fact that you are even asking me if he should go to the floor, if he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100 per cent."
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