Premier League panel rules Liverpool should have had penalty against Arsenal

An independent panel reviewing key match incidents in the Premier League has ruled that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Arsenal secured victory with Kai Havertz’s first-half goal, but the main point of contention came moments later when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak’s shirt inside the penalty area.

Isak was attempting to meet a cross from Bradley Barcola when the incident occurred. Referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue, and the Video Assistant Referee, Stuart Attwell, did not recommend an on-field review.

The panel concluded by a majority of four votes to one that Madley should have awarded a spot-kick to Liverpool.

Three members of the panel also believed VAR should have intervened because the referee had made a clear and obvious error. They judged that Attwell should have asked Madley to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor.

The finding supports the criticism made by Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola immediately after the match. Iraola said Timber had clearly held Isak’s shirt and questioned why a penalty had not been given.

He also suggested that, if such incidents continued to go unpunished, he might eventually have to ask his players to go to ground when they were held in similar situations.

Liverpool are currently fourth in the table and trail leaders Arsenal by 9 points.