FA reviewing incident involving Arsenal and Liverpool players after flare-up

The Football Association is weighing up whether to launch an investigation after an incident involving players from both sides towards the end of Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Liverpool.

Proceedings were briefly paused as Michael Oliver, the referee, ran to the touchline to speak with the managers, Mikel Arteta and Jürgen Klopp, during added time. It is understood to have referred to an argument that erupted inside the Liverpool penalty area and involved several players.

Oliver spoke again to both managers after the game and the matter has been referred to the FA, which will talk to the officials before deciding its next move. “We are aware of an incident that took place during the match between Arsenal and Liverpool,” an FA spokesperson said. “We are in dialogue with the match officials and will review the details of the incident.”

Klopp was left to count the triple cost of a defeat that he admits means Liverpool are “not in the title race”. His side are 14 points behind the leaders after their 3-2 reverse and suffered further blows with injuries to Trent Alexander‑Arnold and Luis Díaz that the manager admitted were “not good”.

Díaz departed before half‑time with a knee injury and Alexander‑Arnold followed at the break having attempted to play on after Gabriel Martinelli accidentally caught his right ankle. Both will go for scans and the stakes for Alexander-Arnold are particularly high. His place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup thinking has been the subject of considerable conjecture and, having missed Euro 2020 through injury, a similar outcome this time would be a devastating blow for the 24-year-old player.

“Something with the knee, not good,” Klopp said of Díaz. “He will have a scan and then we will know more. I have no