Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described Arsenal’s winning penalty as “very soft” after his side’s 3-2 defeat at the Emirates — and confirmed that he withdrew Trent Alexander-Arnold at the half-time interval because of an injury.
Liverpool’s desperately disappointing start to the season failed to spark into life at the Emirates on Sunday as they were defeated in north London.
Klopp’s side had come from behind twice, first through Darwin Nunez to cancel out Gabriel Martinelli’s first-minute opener and then through Roberto Firmino after Bukayo Saka had restored Arsenal’s lead.
But they were unable to come back again after Saka’s 76th-minute penalty, which was awarded in rather controversial circumstances when Thiago Alcantara was punished for a soft challenge on Gabriel Jesus in the box.
Liverpool’s defeat leaves them tenth on the Premier League table, six points behind Chelsea and 14 behind leaders Arsenal.
Klopp told the BBC: “The situation around the penalty, of course we should have cleared it.
