The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has confirmed that Liverpool were wrongly denied a penalty during their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield earlier this month.

The controversial incident occurred in the 21st minute of the encounter on November 1, when Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak’s shirt as the Liverpool striker attempted to connect with a cross from Bradley Barcola.

Despite the contact, referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue, while Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell decided against recommending an on-field review.

Wrong Call By Officials – Independent Panel

However, according to GOAL, the independent panel has now ruled that the officials made the wrong decision by failing to award Liverpool a spot-kick.

Four of the five panel members voted that Madley should have penalised Timber’s challenge, while three agreed that Attwell should have intervened and directed the referee to the pitchside monitor.

The incident happened shortly after Kai Havertz had given Arsenal the lead, with the German’s goal eventually proving decisive as Mikel Arteta’s side secured their first Premier League victory at Anfield since 2012.

The panel’s findings have also backed Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola’s criticism of the officiating following the encounter.

Iraola had expressed frustration over the decision, arguing that Isak was prevented from reaching the ball because of Timber’s shirt pull.

The Liverpool boss also suggested that his players might have to go to ground in similar situations to convince referees to award penalties.

The Panel’s Decision

In explaining its verdict, the KMI Panel emphasised that officials are expected to penalise holding offences that significantly affect an opponent’s ability to play the ball.

The panel noted that referees must consider whether a defender is attempting to challenge for the ball or is solely focused on restricting an opponent’s movement.

It also stressed that the duration and impact of the holding action are important factors in determining whether an offence has occurred.

According to the panel, Timber’s challenge met the requirements for a holding offence and should have resulted in a penalty for Liverpool.

The decision has renewed scrutiny of VAR’s effectiveness in identifying clear and obvious errors, particularly in situations involving physical contact inside the penalty area.

Liverpool subsequently suffered a 3-2 Champions League defeat to Fenerbahce before returning to winning ways with a victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

The Reds will now be hoping to build on that result as they look to close the gap on Arsenal in the title race.