Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, sparking a row involving head coach Andoni Iraola and goalkeeper Alisson. Iraola questioned the officials' professionalism, while Alisson smashed an advertisement board in frustration.
Victor Munoz rescued a late point for Liverpool with a stunning effort from the edge of the box. The draw marked Liverpool's second of the 2026/27 season, following a 2-2 result against Newcastle the previous weekend.
Iraola criticises fourth official
Iraola admitted he was unimpressed with his team, particularly in the first half, but also with the referee's team. He claimed their indecisiveness worked in Forest's favour when he tried and failed to make a triple substitution in the second half.
While he attempted to make the subs, Forest scored a second through Morgan Gibbs-White, who converted a penalty after Alisson fouled Neco Williams in the box. Three players would not have been on the pitch at the time if Iraola had been allowed to make his intended changes.
Iraola was spotted remonstrating with fourth official Tim Robinson as he struggled to display the numbers on the boards. The Spaniard had not calmed down by the time he faced the media post-match.
Alisson's frustration boils over
Alisson was incensed by the penalty decision and received a yellow card for his protests to referee Sam Barratt. The goalkeeper remained furious at the final whistle and was spotted kicking one of the substitution boards, leaving a hole in it.
Dan Ndoye gave Forest the lead after Liverpool struggled to clear a long ball. Alexander Isak levelled with a simple finish from Cody Gakpo's delivery before the spot-kick restored the visitors' advantage. Munoz then salvaged a point for Liverpool in the 82nd minute with a fierce strike that cannoned in off the underside of the bar.
"Two very different halves"
"I will analyse the penalty, yes, but a professional fourth official cannot take three minutes for the subs," Iraola told HBO Max. "We gave the subs two or three minutes before. I was angry because in the previous stop we couldn't make it. And before the throw-in I said 'let's do it now', but I don't know how to explain it but it has taken ages to prepare two boards."
"It's not the result we want. I think two very different halves," Iraola added. "I think we were poor in the first half, even being poor, we were unlucky in terms of their goal. We were very poor in the first half. We were much better in the second half. The intensity was different - if you are going to lose, you have to lose like in the second half. A lot more intense, more threatening, happy with the second half, but it was late in the game."
