Nicol slams Iraola's Nyoni substitution as Arsenal seal 1-0 win at Anfield

Liverpool fell to a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Anfield on Sunday as champions Arsenal claimed all three points through Kai Havertz’s early strike, with Andoni Iraola’s midfield substitution drawing sharp criticism from club legend Steve Nicol.

Havertz’s goal proved the only difference between the sides in a game where Liverpool threatened for long stretches but failed to register a single shot on target, leaving David Raya largely untroubled throughout the afternoon.

The sharpest post-match scrutiny fell on Iraola’s decision to replace 19-year-old Trey Nyoni with the returning Dominik Szoboszlai in the 59th minute. Nyoni had been making his first Premier League start for the club and, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, had helped Liverpool dominate the midfield battle before his withdrawal.

Former Liverpool defender Nicol was unsparing in his assessment. “The one thing that frustrates me more than anything else is the substitution that Iraola made after 60 minutes,” he told ESPN FC. “Other than the little spell in the first half just before and just after Arsenal’s goal, Liverpool were dominating the game. Mac Allister and Nyoni had locked the midfield up and Arsenal were under pressure.”

Nicol argued that Szoboszlai was the wrong player to introduce at that moment. “When he made the substitution and brought Nyoni off and Szoboszlai on, I’m asking myself why is he not taking Wirtz off and leaving Mac Allister and Nyoni to dominate the way they have been. From that point on, this game changed.”

Creating chances has been a recurring issue for Iraola’s Liverpool this season, and Sunday’s performance underlined that concern. The defeat is only Iraola’s second in the Premier League since taking charge at Anfield, but the manner of the loss — particularly the loss of midfield control after the substitution — will give the Spaniard plenty to reflect on.

Adding to the frustration around the result, tunnel footage emerged showing Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes in conversation with referee Andy Madley moments before the second half began. The footage, which showed the pair talking and Gabriel appearing to give Madley a fist bump, quickly circulated among supporters and provoked a strong reaction online, though no formal complaint has been reported.