Premier League Officially Confirm VAR Error in Arsenal's Win Over Liverpool

Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for Jurrien Timber’s shirt pull on Alexander Isak in their 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, according to the Premier League’s independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel.

The panel voted 4:1 that a penalty should have been given for a holding action by Timber.

The incident came in the 20th minute of the Matchweek 9 game at Anfield on 1 November. Arsenal were already ahead through Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute goal, which followed a loose pass from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Isak rose to meet a cross from Bradley Barcola but failed to reach the ball. Replays showed Timber pulling his shirt. Isak stayed on his feet.

Referee Andy Madley gave nothing, and VAR Stuart Attwell saw no reason to overturn the decision. The panel judged the on-field decision incorrect, with four of five members voting against it.

The panel also found that VAR should have intervened to recommend an on-field review, by 3:2, because it was a clear and obvious error. Two panellists felt the subjectivity involved in judging impact meant the high threshold for VAR intervention was not met.

The panellist who opposed the penalty considered the short-lived holding to lack clear impact on Isak’s ability to progress.

The Premier League set out how officials assess holding. Referees consider whether a player focuses solely on his opponent rather than the ball, whether he tries to play it, whether he holds with both arms, and whether the holding is sustained or impactful.

The panel concluded that Timber’s challenge met that threshold, both on the field and through VAR.

The panel also reviewed another incident from the match. According to Sky Sports, it unanimously backed the referee’s decision not to send off Noni Madueke for contact with Alexis Mac Allister and the Liverpool midfielder was booked.

Across Matchweek 9, the panel assessed 34 referee KMIs and deemed 76 per cent of on-field decisions correct. Over the 2026/27 season, 86 per cent of on-field decisions have been judged correct, rising to 97 per cent after VAR intervention.

The ruling does not change the result. Arsenal won at Anfield for the first time in 14 attempts, dating back to September 2012.

Both clubs have played since. Arsenal beat Hull City 1-0 and lead the table on 27 points. Liverpool then beat Crystal Palace 3-1 and moved up to fourth on 18 points.