Neville, Carragher and Wright split over Isak shirt-pull that referee missed at Anfield

Alexander Isak’s decision to stay on his feet after Jurrien Timber grabbed his shirt in the penalty area has divided pundits following Liverpool’s Premier League defeat to Arsenal at Anfield. Referee Andy Madley waved play on during the first-half incident, and VAR official Stuart Attwell declined to overturn the call.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was blunt in his post-match assessment. “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,” he said. “I think Alex is honest. He tries to go for the ball, everyone can see live straight away there is a clear, clear pull.”

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy acknowledged the difficulty for the officials but suggested Isak’s honesty may have cost him. Speaking on Match of the Day, Murphy said: “If Isak maybe makes a bit more of it — I hate to see players exaggerate, but he’s going to score. I thought there was enough for VAR to have another look. If he made more of it, maybe they would have given it on-field.”

Gary Neville, commentating on the match, found Isak’s muted reaction puzzling. “When you get pulled and you’re just about to score a goal, you normally complain like crazy,” he said. “It’s a very odd reaction from Isak not to react.”

Jamie Carragher took the opposite view, arguing that the burden should not fall on the striker to simulate contact. “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?” Carragher said. “VAR, do your job.”

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright backed Carragher’s position. “He shouldn’t have to make more of it, we can see it,” Wright said. “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.”

Ex-Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge shared the frustration, saying Isak should not have needed to fall to earn the decision, even as he acknowledged the striker’s failure to go to ground had made the referee’s job easier to avoid.

The incident has reignited debate about VAR’s application of handball and foul thresholds in the Premier League, with Iraola’s comments — effectively endorsing simulation as a tactical necessity — likely to draw further scrutiny from officials and governing bodies.