Szoboszlai says Liverpool may need to dive after Isak denied clear penalty against Arsenal

Dominik Szoboszlai has suggested Liverpool players may need to start diving to win penalties after Alexander Isak was denied a spot-kick despite having his shirt tugged by Jurrien Timber during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory on Sunday.

Referee Andy Madley waved play on after Timber pulled Isak’s shirt in the box, a decision that drew immediate frustration from Liverpool’s vice-captain. Szoboszlai, who returned from a hamstring injury as a substitute in the match, was blunt in his assessment of the call.

“It’s a penalty,” Szoboszlai said. “I don’t know what they expect from us: to dive or something. I don’t think we are the type of team or players to do that but from now on we might need to do it. If Alex falls down it’s a clear penalty. Timber doesn’t really care about the ball and maybe if he doesn’t pull Alex’s shirt Alex can head it in the goal.”

The Hungarian midfielder acknowledged that Liverpool’s instinct to stay on their feet may be working against them, arguing that Isak’s honesty cost the team a decisive moment. “It is not our type of play,” he added. “I don’t think in this moment you can think this way that: ‘Oh, let me wait for someone touching me and I’ll fall down’. No, he is focusing on the ball and he wants to head the ball in the net. But if you interfere with your hand on his back then he might not do it, then you take a chance from his point of view and it’s a penalty.”

Szoboszlai also addressed his own injury struggles after a difficult run of fitness issues. He admitted he had rushed his return when he started against Brentford before being withdrawn after 30 minutes, and that Sunday’s substitute appearance was the more measured approach.

“The last three seasons I want to play every 90 minutes but sometimes your body says ‘rest a little bit’ and my body told me to ‘stay calm, you’ve had enough games now’,” he said. “I missed games against City and LASK and then I felt again very good after a couple of days off but it seemed I wasn’t ready but sometimes it is my heart and I listen to my heart and not my body.”

The midfielder confirmed he had been fit enough to start on Sunday but that the plan was always to come on from the bench as he builds back towards full fitness.