PREMIER LEAGUE ADMITS HUGE VAR BLUNDER COST LIVERPOOL AGAINST ARSENAL

 

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The Premier League's independent review panel has officially acknowledged that Liverpool were incorrectly denied a crucial penalty during their recent defeat to Arsenal. The verdict vindicates manager Andoni Iraola following a controversial incident where Jurrien Timber pulled back Alexander Isak inside the penalty area.

Premier League admit penalty mistake

The Premier League's Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel has acknowledged that Liverpool were wrongly denied a penalty in their recent 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game in the first half to secure three points for Mikel Arteta's side. Just minutes after the opening goal, Jurrien Timber pulled back Alexander Isak as the forward attempted to head a cross from Bradley Barcola.

Referee Andy Madley waved away the protests, and the video assistant referee, Stuart Attwell, cleared the incident. However, the KMI Panel has now concluded that a spot-kick should have been awarded. Their independent assessment ruled 4:1 in favour of a penalty being given by the on-field official.

Iraola vindicated over penalty claims

Three of the five panel members also voted that VAR should have intervened and sent Madley to the pitchside monitor, citing a clear and obvious error. The ruling vindicates Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who was furious after the final whistle.

Following the defeat, Iraola stated that there was a "clear grab" of Isak's shirt inside the penalty area. The frustrated boss even suggested he might have to instruct his players to go down easily to win fouls in the future.

The decision allowed Arsenal to grind out their first victory at Anfield since 2012. Meanwhile, Liverpool were left reflecting on a pivotal moment that heavily influenced the final result.

KMI panel explains threshold criteria

In their official report, the panel elaborated on the current directives regarding holding offences. They stressed the importance of penalising sustained, non-footballing actions that have a material impact on play. They also noted officials must assess whether the defender makes any genuine attempt to challenge for the ball.

"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," the panel explained.

"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."

Reds bounce back against Palace

The defeat appeared to be a major blow for the Reds, who subsequently suffered a surprise 3-2 loss to Fenerbahce in the Champions League. However, Iraola’s side managed to get back to winning ways by defeating Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend. That vital win keeps the club well within the chasing pack near the top of the table. They currently sit fourth in the standings, nine points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.

- Yosua Arya

HUMBLE ACADEMY BEGINNINGS | SAN SEBASTIAN

🚨They all started from the Academy, From an amateur youth club in San Sebastián to leading the Premier League Bigs. 🤯

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Xabi Alonso (Chelsea), and Andoni Iraola (Liverpool) all grew up playing together at Antiguoko. 😳

Three of England’s 'Big Six' will soon be managed by the same childhood teammates. 🔙👦🏻

The Basque coaching revolution is officially here. 🇪🇸🔥

LIVERPOOL COULD HOLD TALKS WITH TWO ANDONI IRAOLA ALTERNATIVES AFTER FIRING ARNE SLOT

Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is one of the leading favorites to replace Arne Slot in the Liverpool dugout after the Dutchman was sacked, but there could be some interesting alternatives

Liverpool could turn its attention to Lens boss Pierre Sage (L) and Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness (R) and alternatives to Andoni Iraola this summer

Liverpool could look to turn its attention to two relatively unheard-of European managers as potential replacements for Arne Slot this summer.

The Reds decided to part ways with Slot, 47, following an end-of-season review this week, concluding that a fresh approach is required after the team failed to secure any silverware and limped to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League a year on from winning the title.

Heading up the list of frontrunners to replace the Dutchman in the hot seat at Anfield is Andoni Iraola, who is set to leave Bournemouth upon the expiry of his contract this summer following a record-breaking three years on the south coast.

The Spaniard led the Cherries to a sixth-place finish - three points behind Liverpool - and European football for the first time in the club's history after they secured a spot in the Europa League with a final-day 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Perhaps surprisingly, Iraola, 43, is yet to be snapped up by another club, but the timing of Slot's sacking makes him a leading favorite to replace the former Feyenoord boss at Anfield.

However, according to several reports, the Reds are also willing to cast their eye over the European market once more, just as they did with Slot, with Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness and Lens boss Pierre Sage said to be potential options, per The Athletic.

Hoeness, 44, recently qualified Stuttgart for the Champions League with a fourth-placed finish in the Bundesliga this season

Hoeness, 44, is coming off the back of a season in which he led Stuttgart to a fourth-placed finish in the Bundesliga - securing Champions League football in 2026/27 in the process - and the Last 16 of the Europa League.

Last weekend, the German - who spent two seasons in charge of TSG Hoffenheim before being appointed at Stuttgart in April 2023 - saw his side defeated 3-0 by Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin, 12 months on from winning the competition.

Honess likes to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation and according to Bundesliga.com, "strikes the necessary balance between defensive stability and expansive attacking football. When his team finds that perfect flow, the results are spectacular."

As for Sage, he guided Lens to a remarkable second-place finish in Ligue 1 this season, pushing eventual winners PSG all the way right up until the final week of the season, eventually finishing six points behind the reigning champions.

Sage, 47, led Lens to its first-ever Coupe de France title last weekend

The Frenchman, who previously managed Lyon between November 2023 and January 2025, was rewarded with the UNFP Ligue 1 Manager of the Year for his efforts, while last weekend saw him guide Lens to its first-ever Coupe de France title, with a 3-1 victory over Nice at the Stade de France.

Ironically, Sage, 47, made headlines in France last weekend by telling Téléfoot that his dream was to manage Liverpool amid continued doubts over his future.

It can be imagined, then, that the Reds would have no issue bringing the Frenchman to Anfield should they so wish, although he remains contracted at the Ligue 1 club until the summer of 2028.

- Tom Malley

MIKEL ARTETMA HAS INVITED VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE FOR THE VICTORY PARADE

 

EVERY WORD MIKEL ARTETA SAID ON ARSENAL, PEP GUARDIOLA AND TEXTING ANDONI IRAOLA

Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and the title is in touching distance after Monday night's victory over Burnley at The Emirates

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)

The Premier League title is within touching distance for Arsenal after Monday night's 1-0 win over Burnley.

Kait Havertz scored the only goal of the game against the relegated Clarets to move the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal will even be crowned champions tonight if Manchester City fail to win against Champions League-chasing Bournemouth on the south coast.

Mikel Arteta was afforded a huge reception by the home crowd as he took the microphone post-game, telling the crowd: “It is an absolute joy to witness the transformation and contribution each of you have had to turn this place into the most beautiful place to enjoy and play our football games.

“This is the soul of this football club. Make sure that every time you step in this stadium you have the responsibility to keep these standards because it makes such a difference to us and the players.”

He then sat in the bowels of the Emirates to speak to the media. Here is every word the Arsenal boss said...

Was that the game you expected?

I knew it was going to be tough. I think in the first half we played some of the best football we have played this season. We were very unfortunate not to score two or three goals and then that was the story of the season.

If we cannot do that, make sure that we are extremely efficient in defending certain moments. Not giving anything away to the opponent and winning the three points.

Not conceding from open play since Man City away?

Well I think that the desire every single player shows in their defensive duties, their behaviours, is phenomenal and the work by the coaches as well, and we all know the importance of that and how many results and wins we have because of that.

Kai Havertz, starting and his season

Yeah I think we forget the amount of players that we have missed for long long periods of the season. They are exceptional.

That is the merit of this team, that regardless of that look where we are, one game away from winning the Premier League with everything that we have been through and that shows how strong the mindset and the team is.

Is that why you started him?

I had a feeling that he had to start and the way they set up he could be really difficult to handle and he showed that.

It was like you had to suffer through the win?

I don’t know I thought that the amount of hair that I have is never going to go away, but I think this job is going to test it to the limit.

How do you keep everyone focused?

We’ve done what is in our hands, and since the Man City game away, we said it’s five games, we’ve done four, and now there is one to go unless something happens tomorrow night.

Will you be watching the Bournemouth game?

I don’t know how long I am going to watch it, I will be there in front of the TV but I don’t know how much I am going to be able to watch it, that is the reality.

Was Havertz lucky to stay on the pitch?

Well I was certainly worried when they were checking it, when I looked at the bench they said it wasn’t but I haven’t had a look at the action?

Will you watch tomorrow with the players?

No, I haven’t planned to do that. I am planning to watch it with my family and again I don’t know for how long.

The speech at full-time, what did that feel like looking around?

That it’s incredible to witness what we have created in this stadium. Obviously, I have memories from the past, and the comparison is unbelievable to watch. I am so proud. They have created something so special outside the stadium, in the stadium, and now we have to set the standards that we are all responsible for maintaining that because if we can provide that we know the outcome.

How different was that from last season?

Well at that point we knew we were going to finish second and we were not going to have a final to play so yeah, what I said to them: ‘See you at Selhurst Park and see you in Budapest. Two to go!

Pep confessed he was a West Ham fan for 24 hours, are you now a Bournemouth fan for 24 hours?

The biggest ever! Andoni, and all the players and all the supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all are because we know what it means if they get a result tomorrow.

Will you send Andoni a text?

I don’t think it’s needed. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else. When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they show, how difficult they made it, imagine tomorrow.

On reports Guardiola is leaving at the end of the season.

No, I cannot comment on that, the day that he makes a decision to stay or leave we can comment I think.

- Tom Canton

NOTTINGHAM FOREST SACK HEAD COACH NUNO AFYER RIFT WITH OWNER

Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked by Nottingham Forest © Ben STANSALL / AFP

London (AFP) – Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Nottingham Forest early on Tuesday, becoming the first English Premier League manager this season to lose his job.

"The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era," said a club statement released just after midnight.

The Portuguese had been in charge for 21 months at the City Ground, but two weeks ago said his relationship with the club's owner, the Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, had deteriorated.

"Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach," the club said.

The 51-year-old took charge in December 2023 after Steve Cooper was sacked and went on to save the club from relegation.

Last season the club finished seventh in the Premier League, their highest since 1994/95.

That secured a first European berth in 30 years, with a Europa League place handed to Forest instead of their initial Conference League spot, after Crystal Palace's demotion for breaching UEFA's multi-club ownership rules.

"The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club," said the statement

"As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey."

Postecoglou in frame

Forest sit 10th in the Premier League on four points after three games, but were soundly beaten 3-0 by struggling West Ham in Nuno's last match in charge.

British media reported that talks had begun to appoint a successor quickly, with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said to be among the candidates along with Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola.

Nuno Espirito Santo (right) appears to be confronted by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at the end of the match against Leicester City in May © JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

Cracks between the owner and head coach began to show in May last season, when Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno on the pitch following a 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground.

Forest later said the owner was frustrated that striker Taiwo Awoniyi had continued to play following an 88th-minute injury but added there was "no confrontation" and to suggest otherwise was "fake news".

Nuno, who also managed Tottenham in 2021, was publicly critical of Forest's transfer activity since the end of last season, which reportedly did not go down well with Marinakis.

Forest brought in 13 players as new sporting director Edu Gaspar took a more hands-on role in signings, but they let several others go, including Anthony Elanga, Danilo and Wayne Hennessey, leaving Nuno to complain his side had become "unbalanced".

"I always had a very good relationship with the owner. Last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well," Nuno said last month of his dealings with Marinakis.

"Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together but this is not the reality."

Nuno later said he had spoken to Marinakis on the phone since and the two would meet during the international break to iron out their differences.

Sky Sports News reported that the meeting never materialised and Marinakis decided instead it was better to replace Nuno.

Edu and chief football officer Ross Wilson will oversee the appointment of a new head coach.

Forest's next match is away to third-placed Arsenal on Saturday.

© 2025 AFP