Liverpool should have been awarded penalty after Isak shirt pull, panel rules

Liverpool were wrongly denied a penalty during their 1-0 defeat by Arsenal after Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel.

The incident happened in the 21st minute of the match at Anfield on 1 November, when Isak attempted to reach a cross from Bradley Barcola. Timber grabbed the Swedish striker's shirt, preventing him from making contact with the ball.

Referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue, while VAR Stuart Attwell decided not to recommend an on-field review.

Four of the five panel members agreed that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty. The vote on VAR intervention was closer, with three members believing Attwell should have sent Madley to the pitchside monitor.

The panel unanimously agreed, however, that the incident did not warrant a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Arsenal went on to win 1-0 through Kai Havertz's goal. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola had criticised the original decision, arguing that Isak should not have needed to go to ground to win a penalty.