The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has ruled that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty against Arsenal after Alexander Isak was pulled back by Jurrien Timber during their match at Anfield on 1 November.
In the 21st minute, Isak failed to connect with a cross from Bradley Barcola after Timber grabbed his shirt. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, and the decision was checked and cleared by VAR Stuart Attwell. However, the KMI Panel voted 4-1 that a penalty should have been given on the field, with a 3-2 majority stating the VAR should have intervened and sent the referee to the pitchside monitor.
Arsenal led 1-0 at the time through a Kai Havertz goal, which proved to be the only goal of the game. The panel unanimously agreed that Timber's challenge did not warrant a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, noting that Isak stayed on his feet.
After the match, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola told BBC Match of the Day: "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."
The KMI Panel also identified a second VAR error on 31 October, ruling that Ipswich should have been awarded a penalty against Hull City when Nobel Mendy held back Dara O'Shea at a corner. Referee Peter Bankes missed the offence and VAR Neil Davies took no action. The match was 0-0 at the time; Ipswich took the lead shortly after and the game finished 2-2.
