After Liverpool were denied a penalty during the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has admitted they may be forced to change their style to get decisions

Dominik Szoboszlai has admitted Liverpool players may have to start diving to win penalties.

Szoboszlai was fuming after Alexander Isak was denied a penalty appeal in Liverpool ’s defeat to Arsenal despite clearly having his shirt pulled by Gunners defender Jurrien Timber.

Liverpool striker Isak stayed on his feet, referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR deemed it was not big or impactful enough to give a spot kick.

Kop boss Andoni Iraola said his players may have to go down when they feel challenges in future and Szoboszlai went even further by admitting that decision may force Liverpool players to dive to get decisions.

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Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai said: “It’s a penalty. I don’t know what they expect from us: to dive or something. 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.

“If Alex falls down it’s a clear penalty. 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.

“You don’t have any other option, do you. It is how it is, but we have many games to come and we have to be ready for them as well.”

It was clear that Szoboszlai does not approve of diving or even the notion that Liverpool should be more “streetwise” but his frustration was obvious.

He added: “It is not our type of play. I don’t think in this moment you can think this way that ‘Oh, let me wait for someone touching me and I’ll fall down’. No, he is focusing on the ball and he wants to head the ball in the net.

“But if you interfere with your hand on his back then he might not do it, then you take a chance from his point of view and it’s a penalty. Everyone sees it differently but I don’t think you can see this one different.”

Szoboszlai, who came on as a second half substitute, insists it is a waste of time to complain to the officials but says the decision changed the course of the game.

When asked if he spoke to the referee, Szoboszlai said: “No, because I wasn’t on the field. If you go to him you get a yellow card.

“It’s exactly how the game looked like, felt like. We have to take the positive side out of it and keep on moving.

“We are just one penalty less and that’s a big difference. If we go in the game 1-0 up you know Anfield, you know our quality. I know they are a great team still, it wouldn’t be easy for them to come back into the game.”