Controversial VAR decisions continue to generate debate in the Premier League, with two major penalty incidents from Gameweek 9 now receiving criticism from the competition's independent Key Match Incidents Panel.

Despite the technology available to match officials, contentious decisions continue to raise questions about the consistency of refereeing and the effectiveness of VAR.

Repeated controversial decisions have also increased pressure on referees and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to explain how key incidents are assessed.

Gameweek 9 highlighted those concerns, with two controversial penalty decisions later judged incorrectly by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel.

Liverpool and Ipswich wrongly denied penalties in Gameweek 9

The main controversy involved Jurrien Timber's shirt pull on Alexander Isak during Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield. Isak was attempting to reach a cross from Bradley Barcola in the 21st minute, but Timber's holding action prevented him from getting to the ball. Referee Andy Madley did not award a penalty, and VAR Stuart Attwell did not recommend an on-field review.

The second incident came during Ipswich Town's 2-2 draw with Hull City, when referee Tom Kirk failed to award a penalty after Nobel Mendy held Dara O'Shea during a corner in the 18th minute.

The decision added to Ipswich's frustration, although the team went on to take the lead four minutes later through Florentino Luís before eventually drawing 2-2.

Key Match Incidents Panel rules on Liverpool and Ipswich penalty appeals

According to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, four of the five panellists agreed that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty after Timber pulled Isak's shirt at Anfield.

The panel was more divided over whether VAR should have intervened, with three members voting in favour of an on-field review and two believing the incident did not meet the threshold for intervention. The panel also agreed that Timber's shirt pull did not warrant a red card.

Arsenal were leading 1-0 through Kai Havertz's goal when the incident between Isak and Timber occurred, with Liverpool looking to find a way back into the game.

Had the penalty been awarded and converted, Liverpool would have had an opportunity to equalise, potentially changing the course of the match.

The match also featured other contentious moments, including challenges involving Trey Nyoni, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard. However, these incidents should be assessed separately from the panel's findings on the Isak penalty.

The KMI Panel also voted 4-1 that referee Tom Kirk should have awarded Ipswich a penalty after Hull City's Nobel Mendy held Dara O'Shea during a corner while the score was still 0-0. The majority considered Mendy's action to be a clear and sustained holding offence.

Andoni Iraola questions why Isak was not awarded a penalty

After Liverpool's loss to Arsenal, Iraola was left bemused as to how the pull on Isak's shirt was missed and jokingly questioned whether the Swedish striker should've made more of a meal of the pull to get Madley's attention.

"There is a clear grab of the shirt. Alex was just in front of him. He was going to head in front of the goal, but couldn't because he grabbed the shirt. If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty, 100 per cent. It should be like this, but it is what it is. Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won't call it. The answer is you have to dive. If you don't dive they won't call it," the Spanish manager ranted post-match.

Rather than making more of the situation, Isak noticeably turned and said something to Timber right after the incident before Arsenal went on to take a goal kick.

Irony gets even more ironic

As fate would have it, incredible irony struck in match week 10 with incidents that were actually reviewed by VAR after on-pitch decisions were made.

In Arsenal's 1-0 win over Hull City at the Emirates, Havertz's jersey was pulled by Hull's Nobel Mendy in the box and the German went down, leading to VAR having a closer look at the indecent. He was deemed to have been in an offside position when the ball was played into him and thus, a penalty was not awarded. It led to a tirade of discussion on punditry panels and social media as to what the rules state come first, the infringement from Mendy or the offside call which requires tha player to actively be making an attempt to play the ball.

In Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Iraola was again left baffled at the penalty awarded to Palace in stoppage time after a head-to-head coming together between Milos Kerkez and Dario Osario, both of whom were making genuine attempts to win the ball.

"I’m very upset [with] what they are calling in our box penalties, and the ones they’re not calling in the other box. I know that we are 3-0, it’s the 95th minute, but I’m very upset. It’s a head-to-head but even Osorio’s head, after touching the ball, is the one going to Milos. It’s not Milos to Osorio. A clash of heads. Ok, you can say 3-0, 95 minutes, nothing happens, but for me there is more than this. There is more because it’s not the first time this season and you compare and I’m really upset, yes," Iraola said to Sky Sports after the win.

Earlier in that match, there was also a penalty shout for Liverpool when Barcola was shoved in the back when a cross came into the box, but nothing was done by the officiating team with the incident.