Liverpool should have had penalty against Arsenal for Alexander Isak tug - panel

Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for the shirt-tug on Alexander Isak in their Premier League match against Arsenal earlier this month, an expert panel has said.

The Sweden striker's shirt was pulled by Gunners defender Jurriën Timber in the match at Anfield on Nov. 1, which Arsenal won 1-0.

Referee Andy Madley let the incident go on field, and VAR Stuart Attwell did not recommend a review.

The decision was criticised at the time by pundits like Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright and now the five-person Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said a penalty should have been awarded.

Madley's decision was deemed incorrect by four of the panellists, who felt Timber's challenge met the threshold for a holding offence, while three felt Attwell should have intervened because it was a clear and obvious error.

His Reds boss Andoni Iraola was asked after the match whether Isak should have gone down after the challenge, and replied: "It's a shame you ask me this question, but honestly, yes, we have to tell them, go down, because they're not going to call it otherwise.

"And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don't go down, you don't call it. Then it's like, no, you are all the time going down.

"But I think Alex is honest. He tries to go for the ball, everyone can see live straight away there is a clear, clear pull."

Iraola added in a BBC interview: "The answer is you have to dive. If you don't dive they are not going to call it."

Former Liverpool player Carragher was critical of the officials, and told Sky Sports: "One of the best goalscorers in the league is pulled back seven yards out and it stops him heading the ball -- why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR, do your job."

Former Arsenal striker Wright agreed, adding: "He shouldn't have to make more of it. We can see it... Unless I'm pulled back, I'm going to head it as much as I can. When he pulled him, it was just about enough as he would need to go down.

"VAR is wrong in this instance. If they gave that penalty, I wouldn't sit here and say 'I can't believe they gave that'."

There is a strong mandate for Premier League officials and VAR to recognise and penalise holding actions that are sustained and have a clear material impact on play, as well as an increased emphasis on non-footballing holding actions that have no place on the football pitch.

In this instance, two of the five panellists considered that the subjectivity in assessing impact meant this did not meet the high threshold for VAR intervention, but the majority felt Attwell should have recommended a review.

The KMI panel is comprised of three former players and coaches, one Premier League representative and one from Pro Ref. So far this season 196 KMIs have been examined, with the correct on-field decision taken in 86% of cases. That rises to 97% following VAR intervention.

The panel did support Madley's decision not to take action against Noni Madueke after a coming together with Alexis Mac Allister which ended with the Argentinian falling to the floor clutching his face.

The panel felt the contact was "negligible" and that Mac Allister's reaction was "clearly exaggerated."

Liverpool praised by Craig Bellamy for Lewis Koumas treatment

Craig Bellamy has praised Liverpool for their handling of Lewis Koumas before Wales' Nations League trip to Norway.

Koumas has had a breakthrough year for club and country after three loan spells of varying degrees of success in the Sky Bet Championship.

The 21-year-old scored his first Wales goal against Ghana in June and has since become a Liverpool matchday squad regular under Andoni Iraola.

Koumas has made five starts in all competitions and nine appearances as a substitute, scoring his first Champions League goal in a 6-3 away victory over Austrian side LASK.

"I like what Liverpool have done with him," said Wales manager Bellamy, a self-confessed Reds fan who had two different spells at Anfield in his playing career.

"They've exposed him but also known when to take him out as well. There's competition as he's at one of the top clubs in the world, but I like watching him.

"Of course I have a Liverpool head on at times, but I love his enthusiasm and intensity.

"He has been a real big plus for us and hopefully this just keeps maintaining.

"He's getting exposed to real high-level football in the Champions League. There is nothing higher and that's only going to help us."

Koumas spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Stoke, where he made 31 starts and scored six goals.

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A five-month loan spell at Birmingham was less successful, but he helped Hull win promotion to the Premier League in the second half of last season.

Bellamy said: "Loans can be hit and miss at times and I'm actually surprised by the amount of game time he's had at such a young age in the Championship.

"Look at the Harry Kane story [the England captain had four EFL loan spells]. Did anyone see that happening?

"I played against him [for Cardiff against Leicester] and if you had told me this, what Kane would go on and do, no chance.

"But it [loans] helps with their development. They see it, they smell it. In that period some take off, some don't, but it's not going to define your career.

"You're learning and gaining experience and exposure and Liverpool felt it was right for him to go on loan.

"They decided to keep him for pre-season this year and it's real example of how to progress a top, young talent."

Koumas is expected to lead the Wales forward line in Oslo on Saturday as the Dragons attempt to stay in League A.

Bellamy said: "The thing with Koumy is he hits a lot of the markers. Intensity and sprint distance through the roof and when you look at a top player he has all the markers for that.

"I like him at nine and I love that intensity. I remember [Carlos] Tevez doing the same for me [at Manchester City] and players like Koumy inspire you.

"You see him going and you say, 'I've got to go, I've got to move as well.' It's got to be controlled, but his willingness excites you."

Press Association contributed to this report.