‘Horrific!’ Refereeing controversy takes center stage after Liverpool and Nottingham settle for 2-2 draw

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from HITC or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool and Nottingham Forest played out a 2-2 draw on Saturday, but the refereeing controversy surrounding the match has quickly become one of the main talking points.Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was left frustrated after officials delayed his triple substitution shortly before Nottingham Forest scored their second goal from the penalty spot.Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and ex-Reds defender Stephen Warnock both criticised the decision, with Warnock describing the fourth official’s handling of the situation as ‘an awful thing’.Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty ImagesSteven Gerrard and Stephen Warnock criticise officials after Liverpool drawLiverpool eventually rescued a point when Victor Munoz scored his first goal for the club eight minutes from time.However, Gerrard felt Iraola was right to be frustrated by what happened before Forest’s second goal.Speaking to TNT Sports, Gerrard said: ‘You can understand the frustration. In this day and age, with all this technology, it cannot take three minutes to make a triple substitution.’The former England midfielder did not believe the penalty itself was the issue.‘But I think it is a small problem within the overall problem, because it is a goal that could have been avoided,’ Gerrard added.Warnock agreed with his former team-mate and focused on the decision to prevent Iraola from making all three changes.‘Andoni Iraola wanted to make three changes, but the assistant referee did not allow it,’ he told the BBC.He continued: ‘That would have stopped play completely.

It is an awful thing from the fourth official.’Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesThe incident proved particularly costly for Liverpool because Forest went on to score from the penalty shortly afterwards.Liverpool were then forced to chase the game, before Munoz finally produced the late moment they needed to avoid defeat.For Iraola, though, the frustration was about more than simply dropping two points.With three substitutions ready to be made, Liverpool’s manager will feel his side should have been allowed to make the changes without such a lengthy delay.Forest leave with a point, while Liverpool have to settle for a draw in the second round of the Premier League. The refereeing decision is likely to remain part of the conversation long after the final whistle.Join Our NewsletterReceive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox