Just before Darwin Nunez’s dramatic 99th-minute goal propelled Liverpool to a four-point lead in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest faced adversity at the City Ground.
In a tense finale, Nunez, returning from injury, scored a crucial goal off the bench, securing an extraordinary last-minute win for Jurgen Klopp’s team against relegation-threatened Forest.
However, amid the celebrations, supporters of Liverpool’s title rivals, Manchester City and Arsenal, highlighted a controversial incident before Nunez’s decisive goal.
Referee Paul Tierney mistakenly awarded possession to Liverpool to attend to a head injury involving Calum Hudson-Odoi, disrupting Forest’s momentum as they pressed for a potential winner.
The controversy arose in the 97th minute when a collision between Liverpool’s players led to a stoppage in play. However, when play resumed, Liverpool were given possession, contrary to the rules set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
According to IFAB’s laws of the game, Forest should have regained possession as Hudson-Odoi’s last involvement with the ball before Tierney intervened.
Despite protests from Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, and Manchester City fans about the incident during stoppage time, Nunez’s winning goal occurred nearly two minutes and two sequences of play later, sealing a dramatic victory for Liverpool.
