Arsenal defender David Luiz says that conceding a penalty to Liverpool right at the beginning of the second half ‘killed the game’ as the Gunners fell to a 3-1 defeat at Anfield.
Liverpool led 1-0 at the beginning of the second half, when Luiz tugged Salah’s shirt in the area and the Egyptian converted from the spot.
“I think the second goal – the penalty – killed the game. After that it was more difficult. What we take is the spirit until the end, we were trying to play until the end and we scored a goal, but it could have been a different game today.”
The Brazilian admitted culpability with the foul, “Yes, I think it is. You cannot take out from the players, it is just a reflex.
“I spoke with Mo and he said ‘I didn’t feel you touch me, that’s why I didn’t go down to the floor’ but now with the VAR, you cannot see the power so it is difficult for the referees. He saw the shirt like that, but I don’t know.
“It’s difficult for them so I cannot complain with their efforts because it is difficult for them too. If you play with an extra-large shirt now, there could be a penalty every time. It’s interpretation, so I think if you pull someone with power and you change his strength to go to the ball, it’s different.
“It was just a reflex but that’s it, it made the penalty and after that he gave me the yellow. So on the third goal I could not make the foul and put my team in trouble with 10 men. So I think it conditioned my game a bit after that and it was more difficult.”
