LONDON – Jurgen Klopp claimed Darwin Nunez’s controversial late winner against Nottingham Forest was legitimate, as Liverpool further cemented their place at the top of the English Premier League on March 2.
Nunez marked his return from injury by heading home an Alexis Mac Allister cross nine minutes into stoppage time at the City Ground.
“In that moment, I knew it was the last minute and I just had to put it in,” Mac Allister said. “Darwin is such an important player for us.”
Klopp praised Mac Allister’s poise. “The goal was set up by a guy who was the calmest on the whole pitch,” he said.
“He was calm. He chips the ball there. Super assist and super important goal.”
But the Uruguay forward’s contribution left Forest furious after referee Paul Tierney had stopped play before the build-up to the goal for an apparent head injury to Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.
Tierney blew with Forest in possession on the edge of Liverpool’s area and after Konate had quickly recovered, the official dropped the ball to Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who then started the move that led to Nunez’s goal.
“It happened exactly the same in the first half, didn’t it? Exactly the same, just the other way round,” Klopp said.
“I accepted it would happen like that because it happened in the first half. If it didn’t happen in the first half, I would have asked the question as well.
“I would assume that’s the rule, I don’t know. But because it happened twice and got handled exactly the same, I don’t really see their reasons for a discussion.”
Earlier in the game, Tierney halted a Liverpool attack after Forest captain Ryan Yates was felled by Harvey Elliott’s shot and play resumed with goalkeeper Matz Sels taking possession.
“I understand 100 per cent the excitement and the anger of Nottingham, of course, they fought for everything. But it happened twice the same and was consistent,” Klopp said.
Forest’s referee analyst Mark Clattenburg, who officiated in the Premier League between 2004 and 2017 and was a Fifa referee from 2006 to 2017, had a different take.
“The law states that, if the referee is going to stop the game – which he is entitled to for a head injury – the ball has to go back to the team that have possession. Forest clearly had possession,” he said.
“What we will be doing is speaking to the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), with my relationships that I have with the PGMOL and the Premier League, and we will discuss what happened on the field of play today, and we will look at the course of action in the future.
“The owner (Evangelos Marinakis) is quite upset... he wants to see results and he feels that another decision has gone against the club.”
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo added: “We play good, we have chances and we are being punished, it’s tough to take.”
Nunez’s winner secured Liverpool their first league victory at the City Ground in almost 40 years.
The success piled the pressure on second-placed Manchester City and third-placed Arsenal, who play on March 3 and March 4 against Manchester United and Sheffield United respectively.
The Reds have a four-point lead over City, with the result of their Manchester derby unavailable at press time. The Gunners are a further point adrift.
Klopp admitted it had been a huge effort from his injury-hit squad, who have registered six straight wins in all competitions, including the League Cup final win over Chelsea on Feb 25.
“Four games in 11 days, come on. Five in 15,” Klopp said. “With our squad situation, it’s super tough and how the boys fought through that is really special.” AFP, REUTERS
