The Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel has deciphered Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty in their loss against Arsenal, where no VAR review was taken.

The Reds were beaten by the Premier League champions on November 1. The only goal of the game was scored by Kai Havertz in the 16th minute.

Liverpool had a good chance of their own when striker Alexander Isak attempted to head the ball home in the box, but his progress was stopped by a shirt pull by Jurrien Timber.

The Swede seemed like he’d get on the end of the ball had his shirt not been pulled, but VAR didn’t assess the incident.

The Premier League KMI panel has since deciphered the incident was worthy of a penalty.

Per their statement: ‘The panel felt that a penalty should have been awarded for a holding action by Timber on Isak, 4:1. One panellist considered the short-lived holding to lack clear impact on the ability of Isak to progress.

‘The majority also felt that VAR should have intervened to recommend an on-field review, 3:2, on the basis that it was a clear and obvious error. Two panellists considered that the subjectivity in assessing impact meant this did not meet the high threshold for VAR intervention.’

Alexander Isak had to dive

After the match, Iraola was asked by various media platforms about the incident, in regards to whether the outcome would have been different had Isak dived rather than stayed on his feet.

Iraola suggested to Sky Sports that it was a shame a player might have to throw himself to the ground to get a decision he should have gotten anyway.

Then, speaking to BBC Sport, the Liverpool boss said: “There is a clear grab [of] the shirt. Alex [Isak] was just in front of him, he was going to head in front of the goal but couldn’t because he had the shirt. I don’t understand why they didn’t call it, probably because he has not gone to the floor.

“I think the [Cody] Gakpo one was not a penalty but the Alex one he was going to head the ball in front of the goalkeeper. He grabbed the shirt. I don’t understand why it wasn’t called.

“You have to dive, if you don’t dive they won’t call it.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he could show a collection of videos of players pulling the shirts of his men.