Isak penalty shout and Mac Allister flashpoint overshadow Arsenal win

Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League produced two separate talking points that overshadowed the result itself: a penalty appeal waved away in the second half and an ugly confrontation that left pundits calling for a change to how simulation is policed.

The first centred on Alexander Isak, who appeared to have his shirt pulled by Jurrien Timber during the match. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, and the decision was picked apart afterwards by Sky Sports' Ref Watch panel, who debated whether Liverpool had been denied a spot-kick.

The second, and more heated, incident unfolded in the second half when Alexis Mac Allister slapped a grounded Martin Odegaard on the back of the head during a midfield scuffle, immediately drawing in Arsenal players.

Timber and Noni Madueke rushed to confront the Argentine, and in the ensuing face-off Madueke made slight forehead contact with Mac Allister, who fell to the ground in dramatic fashion.

Madley booked both Mac Allister and Timber but opted against sending off Madueke, despite the winger already carrying a yellow card. VAR Stuart Attwell reviewed the incident and determined the contact was "not forceful, not violent, not brutal", clearing Madueke of a red card.

Jamie Carragher, working for Sky Sports, was unsparing in his assessment of Mac Allister's part in the clash. "I'm delighted he didn't get sent off there," he said. "We have really got to be strong and start calling people out and say 'this is embarrassing'. It's got to stop, it's ridiculous. I can't stand it."

The former Liverpool defender went further, insisting supporters and figures across the game needed to challenge the behaviour collectively. "I'm a Liverpool fan and it's a joke from Mac Allister, it's got to stop," he added. "People are trying to gain an advantage because they know they can, because red cards are getting given for it."

Gary Neville, alongside Carragher on commentary, agreed that Mac Allister had engineered the situation. "I don't think Mac Allister needs to go down like that but there's a little nudge with the head," Neville said. "Mac Allister's reaction is a bit over the top, I can tell you that. Get up. Embarrassing. It's Mac Allister's fault because he slaps Odegaard when he's down which is unnecessary."

Arsenal great Ian Wright backed the officials' handling of the incident, arguing Mac Allister had tried to exploit minimal contact from Madueke. "The laws have to do something about this," Wright said, before adding that common sense had prevailed because Madueke "didn't push his head into him, he just confronted him and Mac Allister tried to take that advantage to go down."

The episode has added to pressure on PGMOL chief Howard Webb and the Premier League to address exaggerated reactions to minor head-to-head contact, with Carragher among those demanding managers and officials confront the issue collectively.

For Mac Allister, attention now turns back to performances on the pitch as Liverpool try to respond to the Emirates setback and keep their league campaign moving in the right direction.