Liverpool had to endure two VAR checks before seeing off Nottingham Forest with a stoppage time strike from Alexis Mac Allister - which came minutes after he'd had a goal chalked off
Alexis Mac Allister eventually found a winner for Liverpool at Nottingham Forest
Alexis Mac Allister eventually found a winner for Liverpool at Nottingham Forest
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Liverpool and Alexis Mac Allister were thwarted by VAR and then made to wait minutes later as their stoppage time winner was eventually given at Nottingham Forest.
The Argentine's strike in the 96th minute downed the City Ground outfit and gives the Reds a huge boost in their pursuit of the top four. The World Cup winner thought he'd come up with the game's only goal in the 89th minute as he reeled away to celebrate in front of the away fans.
But Mac Allister's joy was short lived as VAR deemed that a handball, which came despite the player turning his back, meant the goal had to be chalked off.
Forest looked set to land a well earned point following a dire first-half from the Reds, but Mac Allister wasn't to be denied as he scored deep into stoppage time. That goal was again subject to a VAR check and, to the naked eye, it looked as if an offside was going to deny Liverpool again.
Virgil van Dijk nodded down a ball from Dominik Szoboszlai, before it fell for Mac Allister to finish, but the Dutch defender looked to be beyond the last defender. Alan Smith said on Sky Sports : "It could offside, they will have a look at it.... is Van Dijk in an offside position? He does look like he is in an offside position. This is a tough one for VAR when one of the players is obscured."
The semi-automated offside system however showed that the Liverpool centre-half was narrowly onside, leading to jubilant celebrations from the visitors as new Forest boss Vitor Pereira was left raging.
The Argentine's initial goal was ruled out for a hand ball
The Argentine's initial goal was ruled out for a hand ball
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Referee Anthony Taylor confirmed the reasons for Mac Allister's initial goal being chalked off. He announced: “After review, the ball hits the arm of the goal scorer, Liverpool No. 10. Therefore, it's an accidental handball by the goal scorer, so the final decision is a direct free kick.”
Pat Nevin admitted on BBC Five Live: "I can't say Liverpool deserved it over the course of the game, but that's what top teams do. Liverpool went through a few gears in the second half, not massive high ones until the last five or 10 minutes when they put the pressure on. They asked loads of questions."
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