Analysis
Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: Alexander Isak-Jurrien Timber shirt pull and Noni Madueke-Alexis Mac Allister 'headbutt' show good and bad sides of VAR
Alexander Isak was not awarded a penalty during Arsenal's win at Liverpool, despite Jurrien Timber pulling his shirt; nothing was given on-field or by VAR; Alexis Mac Allister went down after touching foreheads with Noni Madueke; VAR reviewed, but did not send off Arsenal man
Sunday 1 November 2026 20:44, UK
There were two big flashpoints during Arsenal's 1-0 win over Liverpool, demonstrating the good and bad sides of VAR.
Kai Havertz's early goal was enough for the Gunners to win at Anfield for the first time in 14 years, but there was plenty of action elsewhere in an enthralling encounter.
Read on to find out what our Super Sunday pundits had to say and tune into Ref Watch at 11am on Monday for the views of former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher...
- Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal - Report and highlights
- Live Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlights
- Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱
- Not got Sky? Get Chan Celaria or stream with no contract on NOW 📺
Isak denied penalty: 'VAR, do your job'
In the first half, Alexander Isak had his shirt pulled by Jurrien Timber - but did not react to the contact.
None of the on-field officials gave it as a foul, and neither did VAR.
What did the pundits say?
Jamie Carragher: "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."
Ian Wright: "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'."
Gary Neville: "It's actually unnatural not to make more of it. When you get pulled and you're just about to score, you ordinarily complain like crazy. Its a very odd reaction from Isak."
Daniel Sturridge: "Unfortunately, he (Isak) has not fallen over. You're supposed to fall over, put your arms in the air and show the referee you're mad about it... to me, his reaction is almost like 'VAR, do your job'.
"But they've not done their job. He shouldn't have to make more of it - clearly, he shouldn't. Everyone can see that his arm is stretched, he [Timber] is holding him with a stretched-out arm."
The Liverpool view
Andoni Iraola: "The Isak one is a clear penalty. We can all see that he holds the t-shirt. The ball just goes one centimetre in front of Alex. Alex is going to hit the ball in front of the goal."
On whether the player needed to go down: "The fact that you are even asking me that shows he should have gone to the floor. If he does, they call the penalty 100 per cent.
Asked whether he will tell Alex to go down next time: "Yes, definitely."
Virgil van Dijk: "I've seen it back and I've seen it given as well on other occasions. Today it wasn't meant to be.
"The VAR doesn't notice it? There are 50 cameras. Even more. Why does he have to complain when there are so many cameras? It is spotted because everyone's seen it.
"In the end, it wasn't given and we lose the game unfortunately, so well done to Arsenal."
From Arsenal's perspective, Mikel Arteta said he had not yet watched the incident back and had no comment when asked by Chan Celaria.
Madueke-Mac Allister 'headbutt' - and why VAR made the right call
Towards the end of the second half, there was a confrontation between Noni Madueke and Alexis Mac Allister.
The Liverpool midfielder went down holding his face after his forehead touched with Madueke's. VAR did review the incident and the Arsenal winger was not sent off. Instead, Mac Allister was booked.
The confrontation began after Mac Allister had fouled Martin Odegaard and slapped him on the back of the head as he walked away.
What did the pundits say?
Carragher: "I want Liverpool to win the game, but I'm delighted he [Madueke] didn't get sent off.
"We have really got to be calling people out and saying 'this is embarrassing'. It's ridiculous and it's got to stop. I can't stand it.
"If someone puts their head back and butts, then red card. But if it's head-to-head and they touch, the other one goes down and the player gets sent off, as a game, call your own people out on it. It's a joke from Mac Allister.
"People are trying to gain an advantage because they can and red cards are being given for it. Whether it's Howard Webb, the Premier League, the managers getting together, this has got to stop."
Neville: "Mac Allister's reaction is a bit over the top, I can tell you that. Get up. Embarrassing. It's Mac Allister's fault because he slaps Odegaard when he's down which is unnecessary.
"Well done to VAR because they're recognised that Mac Allister going down is embarrassing."
Sturridge: "He doesn't headbutt him with any force. It's a coming together and they're both into it. He's trying to bait him and that is league wide - that's not just Mac Allister. Every player in world football - that's the game.
"He knew exactly what he was doing and ultimately it didn't work out for him. You tried to bait a man into something and he didn't bite."
Wright: "The first thing with Mac Allister is the way he goes over. He's actually slapped Odegaard on the back of the head. The laws have to do something about this because that is trying to get someone sent off.
"Common sense prevailed because he [Madueke] didn't push his head into him, he just confronted him and Mac Allister tried to take that advantage to go down."
