Nottingham Forest were involved in a major VAR controversy during their 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool on Saturday, August 29. The key moment came in the 70th minute when Forest were awarded a penalty after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson tripped Neco Williams, but the build-up featured a potential foul throw from Liam Delap.
Former Premier League referee Graham Scott, speaking in a report by Sportskeeda, provided the definitive explanation. He stated that the Video Assistant Referee protocol simply does not permit intervention on throw-in decisions. "The VAR protocol does not allow it," Scott said. He also suggested a possible on-field justification, noting that "it appears the thrower's foot only comes off the ground after release, which would make the throw-in legal." Replays showed Delap with one foot off the line during the throw, contravening IFAB rules requiring part of each foot to be on or behind the sideline. Morgan Gibbs-White converted the resulting spot-kick to put Forest ahead 2-1.
The lead was short-lived. Liverpool equalized in the 82nd minute through Victor Munoz, with the assist provided by Florian Wirtz. The 23-year-old German playmaker, who joined Liverpool for a reported £100 million plus add-ons in the summer of 2023, expressed his frustration after the match. "I'm very disappointed," Wirtz said. "Of course we demand from ourselves the most. We couldn't take the three points again, that's why I'm disappointed." Wirtz scored 7 goals and provided 10 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions in his debut Anfield season. This result marked Liverpool's second consecutive 2-2 draw, following a similar scoreline against Newcastle United.
The draw leaves Nottingham Forest 13th in the Premier League table with 1 point from their opening two matches, following a loss and a draw. They have scored 2 goals and conceded 3, giving them a -1 goal difference. Oliver Glasner's side now sit 5 points behind early leaders Manchester City. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on September 5. Forest will be without Ibrahima Sangare and Nicolas Savona for that match.
Handling the early season with key players unavailable presents a test for Glasner's squad. The point against a title contender like Liverpool, secured amid controversy, provides a platform. The immediate focus shifts to preparing for the Tottenham match, where securing a first win of the campaign will be the objective. The current league standings show a tightly packed mid-table, offering Forest a chance to build momentum with a positive result at the City Ground.
