Alexander Isak breaks silence on Arsenal penalty row: “No need to dive”

Alexander Isak has insisted there was no need to dive after being denied a penalty in Liverpool’s home clash with Arsenal earlier this month.

The striker had his shirt pulled by Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber as he tried to reach a Bradley Barcola cross in the first half, with Liverpool trailing 1-0. Referee Andy Madley waved away the appeals, but the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel has since ruled that VAR should have intervened to award a spot-kick.

According to Aftonbladet, Isak told reporters on international duty with Sweden: “It’s hard to try to score and then fall down at the same time. I was so locked in on the goal that I didn’t really register it.”

“I don’t think there’s any need to embellish or go down on purpose,” the 27-year-old added.” Perhaps it shouldn’t even matter that much, given that we have VAR and systems in place to make the decisive calls in these kinds of moments.”