Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates has shared what referee Paul Tierney told him after a controversial end to the match against Liverpool. The referee has found himself in the center of an unexpected furore.
Darwin Núñez scored in the 99th minute to secure the Reds a vital three points after they looked destined to drop two at the City Ground. But the manner in which it arrived left Forest fuming.
Just moments before, play was stopped for a head injury to Ibrahima Konaté, with Liverpool receiving the ball back when the game resumed despite Forest having been in possession beforehand. The incident led to angry protests from Forest’s coaching staff, fans and even the club’s owner after the game.
READ MORE: Star’s father talks down transfer after Liverpool links as Jude Bellingham defended for remarks
READ MORE: ‘Massive’ – Man City star Phil Foden sends message to Liverpool ahead of title race showdown
Yates has now lifted the lid on what Tierney told him following the incident. “The referee told me: ‘That’s the rule, they get the ball.’ I honestly don’t know how that is possible,” he said, via the Mirror.
“We were in the ascendancy. We had a corner. There was just a coming together and we were going to put another ball into the box.
“Then, suddenly, while we’re switched off, they’re allowed to get the ball to the other end of the pitch and put us under pressure. It’s strange, very strange.”
Despite this setback, the Nottingham Forest captain vows to use this experience to fuel their ambition to survive in the league, adding that learning from past errors is key. He further urged the need to bag points.
“Playing well is all well and good but you can’t keep playing well — week in, week out — and not pick anything up,” he said. “We’ll look at what we’ve done well in previous weeks and I’m sure the points will come.”
Liverpool’s winner was scored by Núñez, who came on as a sub. The Forest fans had been teasing him, singing: “You’re just a s*** Andy Carroll”. The Uruguayan though responded in the best possible manner.
Jürgen Klopp was particularly happy about the goal. He said: “A late goal is always super-decisive and for him, super-deserved.” Klopp also mentioned the chant from the fans: “But before people start singing the song more often, that’s the best way to calm it down immediately.
“They can sing it — if Darwin responds like he did today. I understood it. I think he understood it. It’s the best answer.”
Liverpool.com says: Yates might want to ask why, by his own admission, Forest ‘switched off’ after the incident with Konaté. The game was far from over at that point, and any side battling at the wrong end of the table should be fighting right until the end.
A lot has been made out of this incident, and quite frankly it has been blown out of all proportion. After all, the very same thing happened earlier in the game when a Forest player went down in the penalty area, just as Liverpool looked to get the ball back into the box. Which player was it? Yep, you guessed it, Yates. He certainly wasn’t questioning Tierney then.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Mirror by clicking here.
