The Premier League Match Centre was forced to issue two separate statements following a dramatic and controversial encounter between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, 22nd November 2025.
Forest's Opener Sparks Fury
The match was ignited by controversy when Nottingham Forest defender Murillo fired his side into a shock 1-0 lead from a corner. Liverpool's players immediately surrounded the referee, protesting vehemently that Forest forward Dan Ndoye was in an offside position and interfering with goalkeeper Alisson Becker's line of sight.
However, after a VAR review, the goal was confirmed. The Premier League Match Centre stated: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Allison and did not make an action that impacted an opponent."
This decision drew immediate comparisons to an incident from two weeks prior, where Virgil van Dijk had a goal ruled out for Liverpool against Manchester City because Andy Robertson was adjudged to be offside and interfering. Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown expressed his bewilderment on BBC Radio 5 Live, questioning the inconsistency between the two calls.
VAR Strikes Again as Forest Denied a Second
The drama intensified just minutes later. Forest thought they had doubled their lead when Igor Jesus fired the ball past Alisson, sending the away fans into delirium. Their joy was short-lived, as VAR intervened once more, this time to chalk off the goal for a handball offence.
The Premier League Match Centre provided a second explanation, clarifying: "The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring."
This decision was met with fierce criticism from pundits. Ashley Williams on Final Score stated he could not see where the ball touched Jesus's arm, while Martin Keown also argued it appeared to strike the player's ribcage, leaving many confused about the visual evidence available to the VAR officials.
Fallout and Pundit Reaction
The consecutive controversial incidents have once again thrust Premier League officiating and the use of VAR into the spotlight. The match at Anfield highlighted ongoing concerns about consistency in decision-making, a topic that continues to dominate post-match discussions.
With pundits and fans alike questioning the clarity of the rulings, the debate over VAR's implementation in the English top flight shows no sign of abating. The statements from the Premier League Match Centre have done little to quell the discontent, setting the stage for further scrutiny in the weeks to come.
