One Liverpool star has been blasted for "tarnishing" the Premier League but after the Arsenal controversy involving Alexander Isak, it is obvious why he felt the need to exaggerate

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett says Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is "tarnishing" the Premier League after the Argentine went down dramatically against Arsenal this weekend.

Mac Allister indicated to the referee, Andy Madley, that Noni Madueke had headbutted him, but replays showed there was minimal contact between the pair as they squared up to one another in the second half at Anfield.

Arsenal won the game 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Kai Havertz, and Liverpool could not find a way back into the contest. The stats showed that the Reds didn't have a single shot on target.

"I just wish there would be more respect from players to their opponents. There's certainly not sufficient force to result in Mac Allister dropping to the ground as though he's been shot," Hackett told Football Insider.

"And I think that's the dilemma for the referee. This type of nonsense has no place at the top level. And I support the referee. I don't think it's a red card.

"I don't think it's worthy of a red card, and neither is it worth a player going in with his head, running that risk and a player dropping to the ground. I think it's tarnishing the image of the Premier League. It's not what we want to see."

Gary Neville was among the pundits to criticize Mac Allister for his reaction, but an hour or so earlier, he made the case that Alexander Isak should have gone to ground more dramatically when he was denied a clear penalty.

Isak was dragged back by Jurrien Timber as he went to head a Bradley Barcola cross. Given that the Swede was about to score, had the infringement been spotted, it would have resulted in a sending-off.

However, Isak attempted to carry on as if he had not been fouled and was effectively punished for doing so. The VAR, Stuart Attwell, decided not to intervene.

Asked whether Isak should have gone down under the challenge, Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola replied: "It’s a shame you ask me this question but, honestly, yes, we have to tell them to go down because they’re not going to call it otherwise.

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"And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don’t go down, you don’t call it. I think Alex is honest. He tries to go for the ball, and everyone can see live straight away there is a clear, clear pull."

Speaking to reporters at Anfield, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai later added: "It's a penalty — 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.

"We are just one penalty less and that’s a big difference. If we go in the game 1-0 up, you know Anfield, you know our quality. I know they are a great team still, but it wouldn’t be easy for them to come back into the game."