Premier League admits VAR fault in Liverpool defeat to Arsenal

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak appeared to have been 'tugged' by Jurien Timber inside the penalty box just a few minutes after Kai Havertz 16th-minute goal, but the spot-kick was not awarded, and Andy Madley was not summoned for a VAR check.

The Reds manager Andoni Iraola had also claimed that there was a 'clear grab' of Isak's shirt by the Dutchman, suggesting his players should go to ground to attempt to earn penalties.

However, after a review by the Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel, it has been revealed that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for the incident.

"In the Premier League, there is a strong mandate for the on-field 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," read the panel's statement.

"Referees will consider a number of factors when determining an offence, including whether a player is focused solely on an opponent rather than the ball, whether they make any attempt to play or challenge for the ball, if they are holding an opponent with both arms and if the holding is sustained or impactful to an opponent or their clothing.

"In this instance the panel deemed that Timber’s challenge on Isak met the threshold for a holding offence and should have resulted in a penalty kick, both on-field and through VAR intervention."

According to reports, four of the five KMI Panel members that the penalty should have been awarded by the on-field referee while three of the five members of the panel voted that VAR should have intervened and sent the referee to the pitch side monitor 'on the basis that it was a clear and obvious error'.