Liverpool scored late at Nottingham Forest to take all three points in their Premier League matchup.
Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates said that Paul Tierney told him “that’s the rule” after awarding an uncontested drop-ball to Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher on Saturday afternoon.
Forest supporters are still upset at the referee’s decision to give Kelleher the ball inside his box after Ibrahima Konate suffered a head injury. The home team was in possession when Tierney blew his whistle, so they should have been permitted to restart play. Darwin Nunez would subsequently score the winning goal in the 99th minute, adding to the hosts’ anguish.
Ex-Premier League official Mike Dean regarded the incident as Tierney’s “monumental error,” while Dermot Gallagher agreed that Forest had reason to be upset.
Speaking out about the event, Forest captain Ryan Yates detailed his conversation with Tierney after being perplexed by the on-field decision. “The referee told me, ‘That’s the rule; they get the ball.’ “I honestly don’t understand how that is possible,” Yates remarked. “We were on the ascendant. We had a corner. There was just a coming together, and we were going to add another ball. Into the box.
“Then, suddenly, while we’re turned off, they’re able to get the ball to the other end of the pitch and put us under pressure.It’s pretty bizarre.
“I believe we have to use it to motivate ourselves. We have no choice. We need to start accumulating points.Playing well is important, but it’s not enough to continue doing so without learning something. We’ll review what we’ve done well in past weeks, and I’m confident the points will follow.”
Despite all of the hype surrounding this moment on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool may have felt it was their turn for a lucky call to go their way after being on the receiving end of several incredible decisions this season. Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of September remains the most visible error of 2023/24 and is unlikely to be surpassed.
