Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp slams Arsenal’s winning penalty and criticises VAR for missing handball

Jurgen Klopp was unhappy with the officiating in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday and feels the Gunners’ winning penalty should not have been awarded.

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The Merseysiders went behind inside the first minute at the Emirates after Gabriel Martinelli darted in behind the defence and slotted past Alisson, but Klopp’s side grew into the match and netted a deserved equaliser through Darwin Nunez.

On the stroke of half-time, Bukayo Saka put Arsenal back in front but Liverpool again pegged them back in the second half, this time through substitute Roberto Firmino.

The game was ultimately decided in the 76th minute when Saka dispatched a spot-kick, but there was some controversy over the decision with Thiago making minimal contract on Gabriel Jesus, who went down in instalments.

That was particularly galling for Liverpool after being denied a penalty of their own for what looked like a clear handball from Gabriel Magalhaes and Klopp was annoyed with the lack of consistency, feeling that his side were on the wrong end of two key decisions.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, the German coach said: ‘It was an open game, it could have gone in either direction, and then this situation around the penalty.

‘We should have sorted it already four times before, kick the ball as far as you can, whatever, but we didn’t do that. And then I think if it’s a penalty, it’s a very, very soft one.

‘Like the whole situation, when you see the contact, I don’t even know if there is really contact.

‘When Gabriel Jesus is going down there is like a bit of a delay, so it was not “bang” and straight down.

‘But [the VAR] Mr England thought it was not worth sending the ref to the screen. We cannot change that.

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