# Football penalty dilemma after Isak miss

> Liverpool striker Alexander Isak missed a penalty kick as Arsenal won 1-0.
- Title: Football penalty dilemma after Isak miss · BBC Sport
- Summary: Liverpool striker Alexander Isak missed a penalty kick as Arsenal won 1-0. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says players must dive to get penalties, but…
- Keywords: alexander isak, arsenal, liverpool, premier league, var, penalty, football, referee, sports, dilemma, Isak, miss
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crvg69wn9490o
- Published: 2026-11-02T14:06:47.757+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alexander isak, arsenal, liverpool, premier league, var, penalty, football, referee, sports
## Isak's near miss
Arsenal striker Alexander Isak missed a penalty kick as Liverpool lost 1-0.

> There is a clear grab of the shirt
## Replay shows shirt pull
Replays revealed Jurrien Timber grabbed Isak's shirt but no penalty was given.

> The answer is you have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it
## Referee's decision
Referee Andy Madley saw no foul while VAR Stuart Attwell decided no review was needed.

> If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100%
## Liverpool manager's view
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said players must dive to get penalties.

> The answer is you have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it
## Historical context
Sunderland's Calvin Bassey got a penalty after shirt pull in February game.

> The answer is you have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it
## Holding rule explanation
Holding is a foul only if it impedes an opponent's movement.

> A holding offence occurs only when a player's contact with an opponent's body or equipment impedes the opponent's movement
## VAR intervention rate
Premier League has 14 VAR reviews this season with low intervention rate.

> The number of interventions in the Premier League has historically been the lowest in Europe
## Key takeaway

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says players must dive to get penalties, but Isak's shirt pull wasn't enough for a VAR review.