Independent panel: Not giving Isak a penalty was wrong

The independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel ruled that Alexander Isak should have been awarded a penalty in Arsenal's win at Anfield. The incident occurred in the 21st minute on 1 November. With Arsenal leading 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz's goal, Isak was pulled by the shirt by defender Jurrien Timber as he tried to head Bradley Barcola's cross. Referee Andy Madley did not give a decision on the pitch, and VAR Stuart Attwell did not intervene.

The panel has five members. Three are former footballers or coaches, one is from the Premier League, and one is from Pro Ref, which runs refereeing in England. The panel's 4-1 decision was that a penalty should have been given. Under the 3-2 decision, VAR should have intervened and sent Madley to the monitor. One member argued that the contact was brief and did not affect Isak's movement. Two members said the impact was subjective, so the high threshold required for VAR intervention was not met.

Isak stayed on his feet during the incident. After the match, Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said he would tell his striker to go down next time. According to the panel's data, the rate of correct on-pitch decisions across the 196 KMI incidents reviewed this season is 86 percent. With VAR intervention, that rate rises to 97 percent.

Jamie Carragher questioned why Isak needed to exaggerate, noting that one of the league's best goalscorers had been pulled down seven metres from goal, which prevented him from heading the ball. Ian Wright, however, argued that the striker did not need to exaggerate any further. Wright said VAR was wrong in this case.