Before we begin an unnecessary witchhunt against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, it’s important to bear in mind a few other facts about the officiating that took place.
As James Pearce rightly noted on the contentious decision itself: “So much happened after [Caoimhin] Kelleher restarted the game and before the goal.”
Those suggesting that Paul Tierney – for goodness sake, actually repeat the referee’s name out loud five times – was tilted towards the Reds might need to give their head a good old wobble.
We’re talking about the same official Klopp has expressed concern about for quite some time now. The very sight of the 43-year-old’s name on our fixtures sets hairs on end.
The decisions that didn’t go Liverpool’s way
The failure to penalise a high boot on Ibrahima Konate, for one, is pretty poor on its own. Remember the failure to penalise Danilo after dragging down Jayden Danns in the Forest box?
If anything, Nottingham Forest got off lightly with the officiating at the City Ground.
You can catch the image and clip below, courtesy of James Pearce’s X account and LFCTV:
So much happened after Kelleher restarted the game and before the goal.
Forest should be more angry with Hudson-Odoi/Awoniyi for trying to dribble the ball out of their own box just before Mac Allister’s cross.
Plus Tierney missed high boot on Konate when defender went down. pic.twitter.com/1V3kTAORSt— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) March 2, 2024
Top left of the screen as the ball swings in. Didn't show a closer angle but if you pause you can see Danilo with both his hands wrapped around Danns. pic.twitter.com/wzTIqAfN79
— Owen🇩🇪🇨🇦 (@LFCOwen96) March 2, 2024
They showed the foul on Danns when I was watching it live. It was one of the most blatant fouls you will see in the area. Completely wrapped his hands around him and dragged him to the ground.
And whoever was commentating (can’t for the life of me remember who) said that Danns “went looking for it”. I can 100% guarantee Danns’ wasn’t thinking “I’m gonna make him grapple me”
I thought Gomez grappling with Forest player was worst than the Danns incident
We never give up klopp has built a team that play with fight and do what it takes to win forest will feel hard done by who cares all that matters is we won