The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal following a controversial incident involving Alexander Isak and Jurrien Timber.

The panel concluded that Timber committed a holding offence against Isak during the match at the Emirates Stadium, but referee Andy Madley failed to award a spot kick.

According to talkSPORT, the incident was reviewed by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell, who decided against recommending an on-field review.

The panel voted 4-1 that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty, while a separate 3-2 majority agreed that VAR should have intervened.

However, members unanimously agreed that Timber’s challenge did not deserve a red card.

Arsenal secured all three points through Kai Havertz’s early goal, which proved decisive in the encounter.

Reacting after the match, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola expressed his disappointment with the decision, insisting that Timber clearly pulled Isak’s shirt and prevented him from challenging for the ball.

“There is a clear grab of the shirt. Alex was just in front of him. He was going to head in front of the goal, but couldn’t because he grabbed the shirt,” Iraola said.

He added that the striker might have won a penalty if he had gone to ground.

“Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won’t call it. The answer is you have to dive. If you don’t dive they won’t call it,” he added.

In a statement, the Premier League said the panel believed Timber’s holding action was sufficient to warrant a penalty, although one member felt the brief nature of the contact had little impact on Isak’s ability to continue his movement.

The majority also believed VAR should have recommended an on-field review because the decision not to award a penalty amounted to a clear and obvious error.

The league’s guidelines require match officials to penalise holding when it has a clear material impact on play.

Referees are expected to consider whether a player is focused on holding an opponent rather than playing the ball, whether both arms are used and whether the holding is sustained or affects the opponent’s movement or clothing.

The panel’s verdict means Liverpool were denied a penalty that should have been awarded during their defeat to Arsenal.