Carragher Tells VAR ‘Do Your Job’ as Timber Pulls Isak’s Shirt Unpunished

• Jamie Carragher told VAR to do its job at half-time after Jurrien Timber grabbed Alexander Isak’s shirt in the 21st minute at Anfield, per Sky Sports.
• Daniel Sturridge said Isak should have made more of the pull, while Gary Neville called Isak’s reaction “very odd”.
• Liverpool failed to land a shot on target at home for the first time on record in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal.

A Missed Foul Became a Half-Time Studio Debate

Jamie Carragher had a simple demand for the officials at Anfield on Sunday: “VAR do your job.” The former Liverpool defender made it at half-time, after Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber grabbed a fistful of Alexander Isak’s shirt in the 21st minute. Isak had gone for a Bradley Barcola cross and was held back as the ball went wide. The officials did not spot the foul, and referee Andy Madley let play go on. The studio then argued over whether Isak should have done more to win the penalty.

The Shirt Pull That Split the Pundits

Barcola’s cross narrowly missed Isak, and replays showed Timber had pulled the Sweden international’s shirt as he looked to head Liverpool level. Arsenal were already ahead, Kai Havertz having scored in the 16th minute.

Daniel Sturridge opened the debate by arguing that Isak did not sell the contact. Sturridge said that if Isak “makes more of it, it’s a penalty.” He added that he did not think Isak made enough of it, and called the pull “clear and blatant.”

Carragher was answering Sturridge. He said one of the best goalscorers in the league had been pulled back seven yards out and that it stopped him heading the ball. Then he asked “why does he need to make a meal of it?”

Ian Wright, a former Arsenal player, took Carragher’s side and was open about his allegiance. “He shouldn’t have to make more of it. We can see it. As an Arsenal man, I’m glad we got away with it.” Wright then described how he would play it himself: “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.”

Neville Calls Isak’s Reaction Odd

Gary Neville came at it from the other direction after the break. He took on the half-time view that Isak should not have to make more of the pull. “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. It’s a very odd reaction from Isak.”

Andoni Iraola, the Liverpool manager, had no doubt what he saw. “The Alex Isak one is a clear penalty. You hold the shirt; we can all see that he holds the shirt. The ball just goes one centimetre in front of Alex.” Asked whether he would tell his players to go down in future, he said: “Yes, definitely. Alex is honest, he plays for the goal. It’s a clear, clear pull.”

Iraola has spoken before this season about benching Wirtz, Isak and Barcola, and on Sunday his striker was at the centre of the loudest appeal of the afternoon.

One Shout Became Several

Timber’s tug was not the only appeal. In the 29th minute Cody Gakpo and Christos Tzolis tangled, with Tzolis on the wrong side of the Liverpool forward, and the officials stayed silent again. Liverpool appealed for penalties more than once in the first half. The Kop felt that Arsenal’s players were too quick to tumble and stay down, and at the final whistle captain Virgil van Dijk was booked for sarcastically applauding Madley.

The Attack Behind the Argument

The penalty row sat on top of a flat attacking display. Liverpool had 17 efforts and none forced David Raya into a save. It was the first time on record that they failed to land a shot on target at home. Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar with a free-kick in the 39th minute, and Alexis Mac Allister headed over from eight yards in the 43rd. Liverpool have scored four league goals in five Anfield games this season, and Van Dijk has argued that Liverpool’s new attack must step up. Neville called Arsenal’s display a “defensive masterclass.”

Arsenal went home with their first league win at Anfield in 14 years. Mikel Arteta said his side had to “dig deep and have an element of luck at times.” The three points leave Arsenal three clear of Manchester City, whose financial charges still hang over the title race, and nine clear of Liverpool. Four pundits gave four answers to one question: how much does a striker owe the referee when he is pulled back with the goal in sight?

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.

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