Liverpool should have had penalty against Arsenal, panel rules

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 17:38 · Archive

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel ruled 4-1 that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty when Arsenal's Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in the 21st minute of their 1-0 defeat on 1 November.

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled that Liverpool were wrongly denied a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on 1 November. In the 21st minute, Alexander Isak attempted to head a cross from Bradley Barcola but was pulled back by defender Jurrien Timber. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, and VAR Stuart Attwell checked and cleared the incident.

The KMI Panel voted 4-1 that Madley should have awarded the penalty on the field. It also voted 3-2 that Attwell should have intervened and sent the referee to the pitchside monitor, finding it was a clear and obvious error. Kai Havertz's first-half goal proved to be Arsenal's only score of the match.

One panellist said the holding was too brief to have clear impact on Isak's ability to proceed. Two others argued that subjectivity in assessing impact meant the incident did not meet the high threshold for VAR intervention. Isak stayed on his feet during the incident.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola told BBC Match of the Day after the match: 'There is a clear grab of the shirt. If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty, 100%. It should be like this, but it is what it is.' Iraola added he might tell Isak to go to the ground next time in such situations.

The panel unanimously ruled that Timber's challenge did not warrant a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The Premier League panel noted that the league has a strong mandate for officials to recognise and penalise holding actions with clear material impact on play.

How it is being reported

• Premier League admits Arsenal VAR error against LiverpoolAlexander Isak had his shirt pulled by Jurrien Timber (Picture: Getty) The Premier League has acknowledged that Liverpool were wrongly denied a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal . Kai Havertz ’s first-half strike proved to be the winner as Mikel Arteta ’s side ground out their first win at…Metro · 11 Nov, 12:05
• Liverpool incorrectly denied pen vs Arsenal says independent panelLiverpool should have been awarded a penalty when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in Arsenal's victory at Anfield, an independent panel has ruled.Sky Sports · 11 Nov, 10:33
• Liverpool incorrectly denied pen vs Arsenal says independent panelLiverpool should have been awarded a penalty when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in Arsenal's victory at Anfield, an independent panel has ruled.Sky Sports Football · 11 Nov, 10:33
• Shirt pull on Isak should have been penalty - panelLiverpool should have been awarded a penalty against Arsenal for Jurrien Timber's shirt pull on Alexander Isak, says a Premier League panel.BBC Sport · 11 Nov, 10:16

In this story: Liverpool · Arsenal · Alexander Isak · Jurrien Timber · Andy Madley · Stuart Attwell · Andoni Iraola · Anfield

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