Panel rules Liverpool should have had penalty after Isak shirt pull

Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak’s shirt during their 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has ruled.

The panel voted 4-1 that referee Andy Madley should have given the penalty during the 1 November match at Anfield. It was split 3-2 on whether VAR should have intervened and sent Madley to the pitchside monitor. Isak stayed on his feet as he tried to reach a cross from Bradley Barcola in the 21st minute.

Arsenal were leading 1-0 at the time through Kai Havertz, and the score remained unchanged. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said after the game that the shirt pull stopped Isak reaching the ball. He argued that players who stay upright are less likely to win such decisions; Iraola had also said he would tell his players to go to ground.

The KMI Panel also judged that Ipswich Town should have received a penalty against Hull City on 31 October after Nobel Mendy held Dara O’Shea at a corner. The referee did not spot the offence, and VAR did not intervene. Ipswich were leading 1-0 shortly afterwards, but the match finished 2-2.