The Premier League have clarified why Murillo's goal for Nottingham Forest against Liverpool was permitted to stand - a fortnight after a comparable incident resulted in a different outcome. The Forest defender opened the scoring at Anfield in Saturday's Premier League clash with a header from a corner. The goal sparked controversy, however, with Liverpool's players insisting that Forest forward Dan Ndoye was in an offside position and was obstructing goalkeeper Alisson Becker's view of the ball.
Nevertheless, the Premier League Match Centre stated: "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 Allison and did not make an action that impacted an opponent." The decision has become a contentious issue at Anfield following Virgil van Dijk's disallowed goal for Andy Robertson being offside in the 3-0 loss to Manchester City prior to the international break. Van Dijk's header from a corner would have brought Liverpool level - prompting the club to lodge formal complaints with the PGMOL regarding the matter.
Ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown commented on BBC Radio 5 Live: "If you follow the mantra of last time when Robertson ducked out the way of the ball [against Man City], and here the ball goes through the legs of the player in front of Alisson. Why did that go against us last week and the opposite against us this week?"
Controversy erupted moments later when Forest believed they had doubled their advantage. Igor Jesus struck what appeared to be a second goal past Alisson following Ibrahima Konate's failed clearance, but VAR intervened to disallow the effort for handball.
The Premier League Match Centre explained: "The referee's call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring." Officials determined the ball had struck the Forest forward's bicep area.
The decision sparked fierce debate amongst pundits. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson commented on 5 Live: "You couldn't see the freeze of where it struck Igor Jesus' arm but it looked like it hit him on the sleeve."
Ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams remarked on Final Score: "I'm seeing two angles of the goal and on neither angle can I see the where it touches the arm at all. It his Jesus between the chest and the stomach. That goal should stand."
Keown added: "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."