Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty against Arsenal after Alexander Isak was pulled back by Jurrien Timber, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled.
Isak failed to get his head on a cross from Bradley Barcola in the 21st minute of the game at Anfield on 1 November. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, and video assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell checked the incident and cleared it. Replays showed, however, that Timber grabbed Isak’s shirt.
The KMI Panel voted 4:1 that the penalty should have been given on the field. It also voted 3:2 that the VAR should have intervened and sent the referee to the pitchside monitor. Arsenal led 1-0 at the time through Kai Havertz, which proved to be the only goal of the game.
Two panellists cited “subjectivity in assessing impact” as a reason not to intervene. The majority, however, judged it a “clear and obvious error” by the VAR.
The panel unanimously agreed that Timber’s challenge did not warrant a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Isak stayed on his feet during the incident.
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was blunt about the decision: “There is a clear grab of the shirt.
“Alex was just in front of him. He was going to head in front of the goal, but couldn’t because he grabbed the shirt.
“If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty, 100%. It should be like this, but it is what it is.
“Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won’t call it.
“The answer is you have to dive. If you don’t dive they won’t call it.”
Second VAR error identified
The KMI Panel also ruled that there was a second VAR error, this one on 31 October. Ipswich should have been awarded a penalty against Hull City when Nobel Mendy held back Dara O’Shea at a corner. Referee Peter Bankes did not spot the offence, and VAR Neil Davies took no action.
The game was goalless at the time. Ipswich took the lead shortly afterwards, and the match finished 2-2.