Well, there we have it. Liverpool supporters were right to be furious about the penalty decision against Arsenal, and now the Premier League’s own review panel has confirmed that the Reds should have been awarded a spot-kick.
According to BBC Sport’s Dale Johnson, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has ruled that Jurrien Timber should have been penalised for pulling Alexander Isak’s shirt during Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Anfield.
The panel voted 4-1 that a penalty should have been awarded on the pitch.
Even more frustratingly, there was also a 3-2 majority that VAR Stuart Attwell should have intervened and sent referee Andy Madley to the pitchside monitor.
So, not only was the original decision wrong, but the technology that is supposed to correct obvious mistakes failed to do its job.
The Isak incident that could have changed everything
Liverpool were already trailing to Kai Havertz’s goal when Bradley Barcola delivered a cross into the Arsenal penalty area.
Isak was attempting to get on the end of it when Timber clearly grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.
The Swedish striker stayed on his feet and was unable to make the connection he wanted.
Andy Madley allowed play to continue, while VAR Stuart Attwell reviewed the incident and decided there was no reason to send the referee to the monitor.
Liverpool were left furious, and Andoni Iraola made his feelings perfectly clear after the match.
He suggested that if Isak had gone to ground, a penalty would almost certainly have been awarded.
It was an extraordinary situation. A striker trying to stay on his feet and get to the ball was effectively left disadvantaged by doing exactly that.
Now the KMI Panel has backed Liverpool’s argument.
VAR should have intervened
The 4-1 vote on the penalty is significant, but the 3-2 vote on VAR intervention is arguably just as important.
The panel’s majority view was that the failure to award the penalty represented a clear and obvious error and that VAR should have recommended an on-field review.
There was some disagreement, with two members believing the subjectivity surrounding the impact of the shirt pull meant it did not meet the high threshold for intervention.
The panel also unanimously agreed that Timber’s challenge did not warrant a red card.
That distinction is important. Liverpool are not claiming the defender should have been sent off. The issue is that the shirt pull should have resulted in a penalty.
And the majority of the panel agrees.
How much did that decision cost Liverpool?
We will never know what would have happened if Liverpool had been awarded the penalty.
Isak could have scored, the match could have finished differently, and Arsenal might not have left Anfield with all three points.
But that is precisely why these decisions matter.
Liverpool lost 1-0, with Havertz’s early goal proving decisive. The Isak incident was a genuine opportunity to get back into the game, and it was taken away by an incorrect refereeing decision.
We cannot simply say that Liverpool should have created more chances or performed better and dismiss the controversy.
Both things can be true. Liverpool needed to play better, but they also deserved the opportunity to take that penalty.
Another uncomfortable moment for Premier League officials
I have raised concerns about refereeing standards and VAR decisions involving Liverpool before, and this latest development will do little to improve my confidence.
We have heard plenty of explanations about the high threshold for VAR intervention, but what is the point of having multiple camera angles and experienced officials reviewing incidents if a clear shirt pull like this can be missed?
The Premier League needs to explain how this decision was reached and why the VAR team believed there was no need for an on-field review.
Supporters deserve more than another post-match admission that the officials got it wrong.
And there needs to be consistency. If holding an opponent’s shirt has a clear impact on their ability to play the ball, it should be penalised regardless of which teams are involved.
My verdict
I’m pleased the KMI Panel has acknowledged the mistake, but that doesn’t give Liverpool anything back.
The result remains 1-0 to Arsenal, and the two points Liverpool could have gained from a different outcome are gone.
This is exactly the sort of incident VAR was introduced to correct. Yet the referee missed it, the VAR team failed to intervene, and only afterwards has the Premier League’s review panel confirmed what so many Liverpool supporters were saying at the time.
Liverpool didn’t get the penalty they deserved.
At least this time, the authorities have admitted it.
By Jamie
(The Kopite View)
Oh and I suppose you have never gotten away with a penalty! Check out VVD