Arsenal secured a historic win at Anfield on Sunday with all eyes on the champions who ended a 14-year run without a Premier League victory. Liverpool failed also to record a single shot on target in a league home game for the first time since records began.

Despite the goal from Kai Havertz separating the sides, both teams felt aggrieved at the officiating of Andrew Madley and his assistants. From questionable goal kick, throw-in and corner allocations, to multiple red card claims and a highly controversial penalty call which has received widespread scrutiny.

With that in mind, football.london returns with a referee review taking a look at the multiple incidents in the game. Giving our review and verdict on the calls and whether the game was impacted or not by the decisions.

Trey Nyoni red card?

The youngster was thrown into the mix ahead of Ryan Gravenberch by Andoni Iraola after his impressive display midweek. However, inside the first minute of the game, the 19-year-old drew attention for a bad challenge on Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

He was let off on the first occasion, and then again on his second when he collided with Kai Havertz.

FL review – The player is lucky to stay on the field when you look at both incidents. Of course, there is an argument: if he is booked for the first, does he make the second?

However, the first incident is worthy of more than the binary yellow card ruling, but perhaps just short of a red due to a lack of force. Those making comparisons to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s red card against Spurs have ignored the force of the sliding challenge against Nyoni’s less forceful challenge here.

Nyoni is saved by the time of the challenge. Outside of the first exchanges, he doesn’t get away with the first, which is incorrect officiating influenced by not wanting to set an early precedent for carding players, but then undermining the aim of protecting players from dangerous challenges.

FL verdict – Two yellow card challenges missed.

Jurrien Timber on Alexander Isak

An in-swinging Liverpool cross is played in from the left, and striker Alexander Isak leaps forward in an attempt to glance it toward goal. Jurrien Timber is spotted in the replays pulling back the shirt of the Swede.

It is difficult to determine whether the pull does stop Isak from making contact with the ball, which is ahead of him.

FL review – This is a very poor decision by the officials, and were the shoe on the other foot, Arsenal would have been desperate for a penalty kick and rightly so. What is so poor from a VAR perspective is just how blatant the pull from Timber is from all angle and it could be very fairly argued that the Swede could’ve made contact were it not for this impediment.

FL verdict – Incorrect decision; penalty should have been awarded.

Madueke vs Mac Allister

As the game was coming to a close, the temperature was unsurprisingly starting to rise, and with Liverpool losing their cool when Odegaard earned his side a pressure-relieving free-kick, Mac Allister lost his composure. Leaning down to say something undetectable to a hurt Odegaard before giving him a clip with his hand on the back of the Norwegian’s head understandably sparked a confrontation.

But it was the coming together between the Argentine and Noni Madueke which has caused the most discussion. The two appeared to clash foreheads, with Madueke perceived to be the one moving toward the Liverpool midfielder, and he went down as if a sniper had just clocked him from 500 yards.

FL review – Jamie Carragher said it right in the post-match discussion that this was an embarrassing moment that needed to be called out. Players trying to get their fellow professionals sent off. That goes for Gabriel too by the way, who was clipped by Isak early in the game and also went down as if he’d been lamped by the Swede rather than grazed.

Sadly it seems some feel these incidents are worse than they are and the Gunners have got away with some in the past like Gabriel on Haaland last season for example. This though should hang over Mac Allister’s career as a low point.

FL verdict – Correct decision, no red card. Arguably players should now get booked for simulation in these instances.