Jamie Redknapp has hit out at the Liverpool players for not taking responsibility in the buildup to the 'soft' penalty that led to Arsenal's winning goal.
The Reds had twice clawed their way back from a goal down at the Emirates, with Darwin Nunez cancelling out Gabriel Martinelli's early opener before Bukayo Saka slid home in first-half injury-time to take the Gunners into the break ahead. Substitute Roberto Firmino levelled again for the away side, but with just 15 minutes to go a goalmouth scramble in Liverpool's box ended with Thiago clipping Gabriel Jesus - and although the contact was minimal, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.
Despite fervent protests from the Reds - led by a furious Jordan Henderson - VAR decided against sending Oliver to the screen, and Saka managed to ignore the chaos around him and convert with confidence. Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp joined fellow pundits John Barnes and Paul Merson in admitting the penalty was 'soft', but took aim at Thiago, Fabinho and the other players for not taking responsibility in the buildup.
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"I think it’s a soft penalty, we can agree on that,” Redknapp told Sky Sports. “But how Liverpool defended there, Fabinho he’s on the floor, there was no urgency and I think that goal sums up where Liverpool are as a unit. No one’s taking responsibility, no ones pressing, no ones trying to win tackles.
“Fabinho falls over and he might’ve had a knock, he’s normally a defensive midfield player, if you compare that to Thomas Partey today who was alive to every situation, nobody is really doing their job.
“I don’t think it would’ve been turned over because he’s [Oliver] held in such high esteem it had to be a clear and obvious error. There is contact, it’s soft but I don’t think he would’ve done it.
“I think Thiago was too slow getting there, when people are in the box you sort of have to leave them alone. He’s not going to score, there was an incident with Tierney and Elliott, Tierney was sharp and realised ‘I can’t afford to make this challenge’ he tried to win the penalty.”
Fellow ex-Red Barnes was in agreement regarding the penalty decision: "I think it’s very soft, it’s a very soft penalty. Yes there is contact but contact doesn’t mean it’s a penalty. Thiago tries to control the ball, it goes wrong, when the ball goes out wide and comes to Gabriel Jesus, he does get the ball and Thiago does kick him but I don’t think the kick is enough to go down. There is contact but him going down without being able to get a shot off or the kick making him go down, I think it’s a soft penalty."
While former Arsenal midfielder Merson labelled it as a 'home penalty' - hinting at the kind of penalty awarded under the pressure of home fans.
Despite the defeat, Jurgen Klopp suffered a potentially serious double injury blow, with Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold both forced off. The Liverpool boss described both as 'not good' after the final whistle.
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