KMI Panel Says Liverpool Should Have Had Penalty for Timber Pull on Isak in Arsenal Loss

What happened

Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for a shirt pull by Jurrien Timber on Alexander Isak during their November 1 defeat to Arsenal, according to the Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel, as reported by Football365. The panel also concluded that VAR should have intervened to recommend an on-field review, though no review was taken at the time.

Report details

The only goal of the game was scored by Kai Havertz in the 16th minute, and Arsenal won as the Premier League champions. Liverpool's chance came when Isak attempted to head the ball home in the box, but his progress was stopped by Timber's hold on his shirt. The Swede appeared likely to reach the ball had his shirt not been pulled.

The panel's statement, quoted by Football365, said a penalty should have been awarded for the holding action by a 4:1 margin, with one panellist considering the short-lived holding to lack clear impact on Isak's ability to progress. A majority also felt VAR should have intervened to recommend an on-field review, 3:2, on the basis that it was a clear and obvious error, while two panellists considered the subjectivity in assessing impact meant the incident did not meet the high threshold for VAR intervention.

After the match, Liverpool boss Iraola was asked by media whether the outcome would have differed had Isak dived rather than stayed on his feet. He told Sky Sports it was a shame a player might have to throw himself to the ground to get a decision he should have received anyway. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said there was a clear grab of the shirt, that Isak was just in front of his marker and was going to head the ball in front of the goal but could not because of the shirt, and that he did not understand why it was not called, probably because Isak had not gone to the floor. He added that he thought the Cody Gakpo incident was not a penalty but that Isak was going to head the ball in front of the goalkeeper, and that players have to dive because otherwise the decision will not be given.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he could show a collection of videos of players pulling the shirts of his men.