Gabriel's half-time fist bump with referee fuels Liverpool fury after Arsenal win at Anfield

Tunnel footage of Arsenal defender Gabriel exchanging a fist bump with referee Andy Madley at half-time has intensified Liverpool supporters’ anger following a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, with Kai Havertz’s goal settling a match overshadowed by disputed officiating.

The video, which circulated widely on social media after Sunday’s game at Anfield, shows Gabriel and Madley in conversation in the tunnel before the second half. For Liverpool fans already frustrated by two disallowed penalty appeals, the images proved incendiary. “This referee clearly had a favourite. Liverpool got robbed in broad daylight,” wrote one supporter online, while another added: “Couldn’t be more blatant.”

The controversy centres on two key moments. Alexander Isak appeared to be pulled back by Jurrien Timber inside the area, a decision VAR reviewed and cleared. Cody Gakpo also had a penalty appeal waved away, with Gabriel seemingly receiving only a warning from Madley at the time.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, suffering his second home defeat of the season, was unequivocal in his view that Isak’s incident warranted a spot kick. He also addressed a pointed question about whether his striker should have gone to ground to make the foul more obvious to the officials.

“It’s a shame you ask me this question but, honestly, yes, we have to tell them to go down because they’re not going to call it otherwise,” Iraola said. “And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don’t go down, you don’t call it. I think Alex is honest. He tries to go for the ball, everyone can see live straight away there is a clear, clear pull.”

The Spaniard’s admission that he will now instruct his players to exaggerate contact in order to win penalties reflects a broader frustration with how honest reactions are penalising Liverpool in tight decisions. Isak’s failure to appeal or fall, Iraola suggested, effectively cost his side a clear opportunity to change the result.