Andoni Iraola rages over subs board blunder before Liverpool conceded Forest penalty

Andoni Iraola fumed over a technology blunder in the moments before Liverpool conceded a penalty against Nottingham Forest after being made to wait multiple minutes to make a triple substitution.

Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Forest in Iraola’s first Anfield outing in charge, required to come from behind twice against Oliver Glasner‘s men to salvage a point.

Alexander Isak cancelled out Dan Ndoye’s opener on the hour mark, but the Reds fell behind again 10 minutes later when Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the spot.

Iraola was asked after the match about the penalty incident, which saw Alisson take out Neco Williams who had darted into the area from a quick Liam Delap throw.

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Morgan Gibbs-White restored Forest’s lead from the spot (Getty)

However, the Spaniard chose to focus on the events on the touchline that preceded the penalty, which saw fourth official Tim Robinson take a lengthy period of time to get his substitution board ready for a triple Liverpool replacement.

“I will analyse the penalty, but a professional fourth official cannot take three minutes [to make subs],” the Liverpool manager told TNT Sports. “We’ve already given the subs like two or three minutes before.

“I was already angry because in the previous stop [in play], we couldn’t make it. And before the throw-in [which Forest got the penalty from], I said, ‘Okay, we’ll do now’.

“I don’t know. They will have to explain it, but it has taken ages to prepare the subs.”

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Andoni Iraola was not happy with the fourth official (PA)

Speaking to BBC Sport, Iraola added: “He was having an issue with the board, I don’t know if it was not working, but we definitely wanted to do the subs the last two or three stoppages before the goal. It wasn’t just that reason [for the penalty] but everything helps.”

Liverpool eventually made the changes after Gibbs-White scored his spot-kick, with Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Rio Ngumha all coming on to replace Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Cody Gakpo.

The Reds clawed the game back for a draw through new signing Victor Munoz who rifled home in the 82nd minute.

Liverpool’s next match will be away to Ipswich Town on Friday 4 September.