Jurgen Klopp has questioned the award of Arsenal’s match-winning penalty and why Liverpool weren’t given a spot kick of their own after another disappointing afternoon.
Bukayo Saka netted 14 minutes from time to earn the Gunners a 3-2 triumph at the Emirates after Thiago Alcantara was adjudged to have felled Gabriel Jesus during a goalmouth scramble.
Referee Michael Oliver immediately pointed to the spot with VAR Darren England backing his fellow official, despite television replays indicating any possible contact was minimal.
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Liverpool had strong claims for a penalty ignored in the first half when centre-back Gabriel handled a Diogo Jota cross at close range.
And Klopp said of the game’s decisive moment: “What can I say now about that situation? He (the referee) thought immediately it was a penalty, which was interesting but his decision.
“Mr England had a look at it as well and thought it was a penalty. How we know in life, if two refs think the same then that’s the truth we have to live with.
“If I see the situation back, if there was contact – and I’m not sure there was – there might have been soft contact, then the player goes again on both feet and then down, that’s an indication that something might have been made up. But not for the refs.
“But they thought it was a clear not handball in the first half when Diogo put the ball on Gabriel’s arm, and we cannot change that.
“Our situation is difficult enough with injuries on top of that, but in a game like this, when decisions go against you it’s kind of typical but it doesn’t help. Now we have lost the game.”
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