Liverpool welcomed Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking to pick up their first victory of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign. However, they were unable to get the win they wanted as the match ended 2-2.
Dan Ndoye’s 24th minute goal ensured Oliver Glasner’s side held the lead at the break.
Alexander Isak netted his first goal of the season on the hour-mark to restore parity, only for Morgan Gibbs-White to restore the away side’s lead 10 minutes later via the penalty spot.
Victor Munoz equalised for the Reds with eight minutes remaining, but there were no further goals as the spoils were shared.
Ex-PGMOL Chief Gives Penalty Verdict
Forest were given a penalty in controversial circumstances in the second half. The Tricky Trees caught Liverpool napping at the back with a quick throw-in.
Alisson Becker came rushing out of his goal to close Neco Williams down. Williams got to the ball first and Forest were given a penalty when the Brazilian goalkeeper was adjudged to have fouled him.
Liverpool’s players, especially Alisson, were furious that a penalty was awarded. Alisson was still furious after the match as he took his frustrations out on the substitutes’ board as he made his way to the dressing room.
Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has given his thoughts on the controversy. The former Premier League referee has no doubt in his mind that the officials made the right call. He told Football Insider:
“Good decision by the referee to award a penalty kick. The goalkeeper made a careless challenge, resulting in referee Barrott pointing to the penalty spot.”
There were also suggestions that the goal should have been disallowed for a foul throw-in in the build-up. Ex-Premier League referee Graham Scott has refuted those claims.
“A lot of comments that the VAR should intervene because it’s a foul throw,” Scott wrote on X.
“He can’t – the VAR protocol does not allow it. In any event, it appears the thrower’s foot only comes off the ground after release, which would make the throw-in legal. Whether it’s a pen is another matter.”
Andoni Iraola Rages at Fourth Official
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has claimed that a penalty should not have been given. He was also upset that he could not make substitutions in the minutes before the spot-kick was awarded due to a fault with the board.
“With the penalty, the situation has already finished when the contact appears. And it’s not an aggressive contact,” Iraola told BBC Match of the Day.
“But more than this we complained about the subs. We had to wait about three minutes.
“He was having an issue with the board, I don’t know if it was not working, but we definitely wanted to do the subs the last two or three stoppages before the goal. It wasn’t just that reason but everything helps.”
He added: “A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes. We’d already given him the subs two or three minutes before.
“I was already angry because in the previous stoppage we couldn’t make the subs and then before throw-in I thought we could do it. don’t know, they will have to explain it. But it has taken ages.”
Liverpool will be hoping to pick up their first win of the Premier League campaign when they travel to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Friday, September 4.
