Frimpong was caught offside when tracking back
Frimpong was caught offside when tracking back (Image: DAZN)
Premier League authority Pro Ref have confirmed the reason why Florian Wirtz's goal against Nottingham Forest was disallowed. The Liverpool midfielder thought he had equalised after Dan Ndoye put the visitors ahead at Anfield, but referee Sam Barratt chalked it off after a VAR intervention.
The goal was given on the pitch, with Wirtz showing ruthlessness to rifle into the bottom corner from Jeremie Frimpong's pass. But Liverpool's celebrations were cut short when, after a lengthy VAR check, the official informed captain Virgil van Dijk and then the entire stadium that it would be ruled out.
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Premier League Match Centre confirmed: "VAR checked the referee's call of goal – and determined that Frimpong was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."
On HBO Max commentary, Ally McCoist explained: "When the ball came into Jeremie Frimpong, it looked close, he's just slightly offside.
"I knew there wasn't a lot in it but the bottom line was he was in an offside position."
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Forest recovered from the setback to carry their advantage into the break following Ndoye's strike. Sloppy defending allowed Igor Jesus to hold the ball up from Mat Sels' long punt upfield.
The striker then laid off to Morgan Gibbs-White, who teed up Ndoye to dispatch a composed finish into the bottom corner.
The screen shows a VAR decision to disallow a goal scored by Florian Wirtz
The screen shows a VAR decision to disallow a goal scored by Florian Wirtz (Image: Getty Images)
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock was left stunned by Liverpool's defensive display. "It's under-10s football from Liverpool in terms of defending," he said.
"It's a simple ball over the top, the centre forward is strong and physical and when he lays it off the finish from Dan Ndoye is beautiful. Forest deservedly go ahead."
Liverpool drew their opening game of the league season at Newcastle, rescuing a 2-2 draw with Dominik Szoboszlai's 98th-minute penalty.
Andoni Iraola made two changes from that match, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz for Ryan Gravenberch and Rio Ngumoha.