Paul Tierney’s decision to hand Liverpool the ball instead of Nottingham Forest has sparkd huge criticism from fans and pundits alike, with Alan Shearer inisiting the official got it “totally wrong”

Match of the Day duo Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas are the latest to blast Paul Tierney’s part to play in Liverpool’s controversial late winner away at Nottingham Forest.

The two sides were on course to play out a 0-0 draw after an afternoon of missed chances from both teams.

But the 99th minute winner saw Darwin Nunez pop up with a vital header to hand the Reds all three points and keep Jurgen Klopp’s men in the driving seat when it comes to the title race.

However, the goal did not come without controversy, as Forest felt Liverpool shouldn’t have even had the ball in the first place. Just as Callum Hudson-Odoi had the ball on the attacking left-flank, Reds defender Ibrahima Konate went down clutching his head after a clash with his own goalkeeper.

Much to the frustrations of the Forest players, Tierney whistled to stop the game. However, once he deemed it fit to resume, he gave the ball to Liverpool – despite the fact that it was the hosts who had the ball when he first paused play. Once Liverpool went up the other end and scored, all hell broke loose with Forest’s players, staff, fans and even owner protesting the officiating at full-time.

Analysing the incident on Match of the Day, Shearer made his feelings on the matter crystal clear as he claimed: “He’s dropped a big clanger, Paul Tierney.

“He’s got it totally wrong, it’s a corner to forest late on and Konate gets a head injury. He gets knocked down by his goalkeeper, Kelleher. Paul Tierney doesn’t blow [straight away], Hudson-Odoi has the ball and then the referee blows because it’s a head injury.

“What he does is he then gives the ball unchallenged to the goalkeeper, which is totally wrong and should be a Forest unchallenged drop-ball out on the wing where the ball was stopped. I get the point of the goal being one minute and 50 seconds later, the point is valid, but if you drop it where Forest should have had it, everything changes. Liverpool don’t get the corner and the goal changes.”

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Nottingham Forest’s players and staff protested Paul Tierney’s decision after the full-time whistle (
Image:
PA)
Fellow pundit Jenas echoed a similar sentiment while picking apart the passage of play. “Yeah I mean, I think it’s a really shocking decision,” he added.

“The time thing is valid, the game is completely different at that particular point, time added on, Forest have got Liverpool under pressure, Hudson-Odoi might get another corner or another shot on goal. To release that pressure at that moment in the game is massive. It’s a big one for Forest to have to take and move on from.”

The dramatic win keeps Liverpool firmly in the driving seat in the race for the Premier League title, maintaining their lead over fellow challengers Manchester City and Arsenal. As for Forest, they languish all the way down in 17th, four points ahead of Luton Town having played one game more.