Alexis Mac Allister ensured that Liverpool took all three points from their trip to the City Ground on Sunday afternoon with a dramatic goal at the death, but Jamie Carragher was fuming with the Reds' performance
Jamie Carragher speaks into a microphone
Jamie Carragher was not impressed with Liverpool's performance(Image: Getty Images)
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Jamie Carragher claims that Liverpool's win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday was "one of the biggest robberies" he has seen in the Premier League this season as he heaped praise on Rio Ngumoha. The Reds ran out 1-0 winners at the City Ground thanks to a late finish from Alexis Mac Allister.
However, Carragher was far from impressed by what he saw from his former club on the day; a largely lacklustre showing against a struggling Premier League team. Speaking on Sky Sports at full-time, the 48-year-old said: "That's one of the biggest robberies I've seen in the Premier League this season."
The pundit also took particular problem with the performances of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo. Usually a dangerous outfit in and around the box, Liverpool managed just 10 shots over the course of the game; just four on target.
For context, Forest managed two shots on target from a total of 18, providing a far bigger threat than the Reds during the match. The hosts also enjoyed 47 per cent of the possession to Liverpool's 53 per cent, holding their own for large portions of the game.
And Carragher opined that Salah and Gakpo were part of the problem in terms of inspiring creativity, suggesting that Ngumoha did 'more in the 15 minutes' he was on the pitch than his more experienced team-mates.
He added: "Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that. He changed the game and needs to be starting games. There's no-one better in getting last-minute winners in Premier League - and that is Liverpool."
The Premier League encounter almost looked certain to play out as a goalless draw until its dying stages, when Mac Allister thought he had given his side the lead. Ngumoha stood the ball up in the centre of the box from the right, with Hugo Ekitike nodding goalward from close range.
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While Stefan Ortega was equal to his effort, he was only able to parry the ball feet from his goal rather than tip it over or wide. As a result, Ola Aina was left to attempt to clear the ball from a dangerous area, with Mac Allister blocking his effort as the ball ricocheted off him and into the back of the net.
Jubilation was incredibly short-lived in the away end of the ground, however, as VAR quickly stepped in to intervene. After a moment of scrutinising the footage, officials deemed that the ball had actually connected with the arm of Mac Allister, ruling out his goal.
Explaining the decision on X, the Premier League Match Centre wrote: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Liverpool. Referee announcement: 'After review, the ball hits the arm of the goalscorer, Liverpool No. 10. Therefore, it's an accidental handball by the goal scorer, so the final decision is a direct free kick.'"
Mac Allister did, however, get his goal deep into stoppage time, once again being in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball into the back of the net. In the 97th minute, Dominik Szoboszlai found Virgil van Dijk at the back post, Ortega once again equal to the header.
Rio Ngumoha runs with the ball
Rio Ngumoha impressed against Nottingham Forest(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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However, in a cruel instance of history repeating itself, the goalkeeper once more parried the ball into his own six-yard box, with Mac Allister running onto it and powering it home. While VAR once again checked the passage of play to identify whether Van Dijk was in an offside position before making his header, officials quickly deemed Aina to be playing the Dutchman onside, allowing the goal to stand.
Speaking in the aftermath of the game, Mac Allister explained how he was happy to have scored the winner, but was also unconvinced by his team's overall performance. He said: "Mixed feelings to be honest.
"Love scoring, love winning. In that sense it's a really good day. But I don't think we played very well. There are things we need to improve, but it's always nicer when we win."
On his disallowed goal he added: "It did [hit my arm], but it's harsh. Because it hit my back as well. I understand the rules but it's football, it's very harsh."
On scoring the winner, meanwhile, he explained: "I knew I would get another one. Before the throw-in, I told Hugo it would be our situation. But I had another opportunity and I am glad it went in."
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