General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on November 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on November 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The first 45 minutes of Liverpool's Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest was filled with plenty of controversy
The visitors led 1-0 at half-time after Murillo’s goal on 33 minutes. The away side thought they’d scored again just a few minutes later but saw that goal ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
The opening goal was controversial as a Forest defender was stood in an offside position in front of Alisson Becker. However, it was ruled he was not impacting the Reds goalkeeper.
The controversy arises due to Virgil van Dijk seeing a goal ruled out against Manchester City for a similar reason in Liverpool’s last outing. The decision to rule the goal out was widely criticised but backed by PGMOL chief Howard Webb.
Explaining the reason to not rule the goal out on Saturday, the Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Alisson and did not make an action that impacted an opponent.”
Just two minutes later, Igor Jesus scored what he thought was the visitors’ second goal but it was ruled out for handball.
The Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring.”
However, this was another controversial decision was the handball did not appear to be obvious.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: “You couldn't see the freeze of where it struck Igor Jesus' arm but it looked like it hit him on the sleeve.”
Ex-Arsenal man Martin Keown said: “It looks like the ball came up and hit Jesus on his ribcage. Surely VAR have seen something to chalk it off. I can't see the hand.”
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