Carragher fumes as VAR misses Isak penalty: 'Do your job'

Jamie Carragher issued a blistering defence of Alexander Isak after the Liverpool striker was denied a penalty against Arsenal, telling the VAR officials to "do your job". The Mirror reported ^[1] that the former defender was left fuming when Jurrien Timber pulled Isak’s shirt seven yards out, preventing the Sweden international from heading the ball. Despite replays showing the contact, referee Andy Madley waved the appeal away.

The incident occurred as Liverpool chased an equaliser after Kai Havertz’s early tap-in gave Arsenal the lead. Carragher argued that Isak’s honesty cost his team, stating that the striker should have made more of the contact. "One of the best goalscorers 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," Carragher said according to the Mirror ^[1].

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola took a pragmatic, if cynical, view of the situation. Speaking to BBC Sport, as cited by the Independent ^[3], Iraola stated that players "have to dive" because referees often do not award penalties unless the player goes to the floor. He confirmed he would instruct his squad to simulate more emphatically in future. "If you don’t go down, you don’t call it," Iraola said, noting that Isak’s refusal to dive likely influenced the decision.

The Guardian reported ^[2] that Iraola accepted the dismissal of a second penalty claim involving Cody Gakpo, where the ball was deemed too long. However, he insisted the Isak incident was a "clear penalty" and criticised the inconsistency of the officiating. "It shouldn’t be a reason not to concede a penalty," Iraola argued.