Szoboszlai handball, Timber penalty and free-kick claims - Liverpool vs Arsenal referee review

Chris Kavanagh officiated the match between Liverpool and Arsenal that contained three contentious moments (Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images / BBC Sport / Premier League)

Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the new Premier League season at Liverpool as the Gunners were beaten by a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick from an obscene range. The goal of the season so far, certainly, and one that Mikel Arteta was gutted to see beat David Raya.

Games between the two sides have contained plenty of controversies throughout the years, be that a Virgil van Dijk stamp on Kai Havertz going unpunished or an Ibrahima Konate challenge on Gabriel Martinelli that went unpunished. However, at Anfield, there was yet more as Chris Kavanagh took charge of the game.

Jurrien Timber penalty claim

This was the only incident in the first half worthy of much scrutiny when Jurrien Timber went down in the box. Noni Madueke cuts the ball back to the Dutchman who gets his foot on it but when he tries to roll it back, he is blocked by the outstretched and planted leg of Alexis Mac Allister and he goes down adamant he deserved a penalty.

FL Review - This is one of those ones where it is always going to be very unlikely that the referee will give a penalty, as there seems so little in it. Therefore, VAR will certainly not see it as a clear and obvious error. Is Timber impeded? Yes.

Is he impeded unfairly, and is it a foul? I do not think so, and think Mac Allister is entitled to have his leg planted, and it's more Timber into the player than Mac Allister into Timber. Similar to what we saw with William Saliba and Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford which also was not a penalty.

FL verdict – Correct decision. No penalty.

Alexis Mac Allister appears to impede Jurrien Timber of Arsenal against Liverpool (Image: Sky Sports / Premier League)

The wall for the free-kick

As mentioned, Arsenal were beaten by a brilliant free-kick from Szoboszlai. The Hungarian international has form for this for his former clubs and his country and it’s a shame he was given the chance here after a cynical foul from Martin Zubimendi, no complaints there.

Some rather high-profile individuals on social media have raised the issue of the Liverpool players being within one metre of the wall, which was the reason given for Eberechi Eze’s free-kick against Chelsea being ruled out. However, this one is rather simple and has further evidence.

FL review - It is all about camera angles. While in the above image, which has been used by many, the Liverpool players appear to be close to the wall, the second image shows them well clear of it. It is a shame to see such misinformation attempted to be posted over social media, convincing those who haven’t seen the important images that there was, in fact, nothing wrong.

FL verdict – Correct decision, goal.

Dominik Szoboszlai scores free-kick against Arsenal for Liverpool (Image: BBC Sport / Premier League)

Szoboszlai handball claims

Late in the game as Arsenal chased an equaliser, a cross into the box was shown to land on the arm of the goalscorer Szoboszlai. It bounced off harmlessly and Liverpool managed the clear the danger, VAR checked the incident but waved it away.

FL review – According to the current rules, the correct decision was made and the arm which is in a natural position for someone jumping or anticipating needing to jump gets hit. But this comes down to perspective and subjective desires about the law too.

If you want this to be given as a handball in every instance then you are one of those people that believe footballers shouldn’t have arms, plane and simple. I’d love, from an Arsenal perspective, if they had been awarded a penalty for obvious reasons, but as a lover of football I do not want these given and I am glad the law reflects this.

FL verdict – Correct decision, no penalty.

Dominik Szoboszlai was accused of a handball in the box for Liverpool against Arsenal (Image: BBC Sport / Premier League)

That is the first time this season that we have had a clean sweep, where we have agreed with all the decisions made. Chris Kavanagh had a good game in the middle of the park, and the game mainly passed him by despite irritating the home crowd by giving some fouls, which were… guess what? Fouls.

It is a shame that Arsenal could not take advantage of the chances they had, particularly in the first half. Mikel Arteta shoulders much of the blame for the approach to the match, which, as discussed, for me was far too cautious.

Our next referee review will come after the international break. Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium is the first game up.