💢🚨ArsenalArsenal Fans Outraged as Diogo Jota’s Controversial Goal for Liverpool Stands Against Nottingham Forest

 

Former Referee Casts Verdict on Liverpool’s ‘Unfair Tactic’ for Goal vs Nottingham Forest

 

 

 

In a gripping clash at The City Ground, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota struck an equaliser just moments after his 65th-minute introduction, but not without stirring up a hornet’s nest of controversy among rival fans—especially those donning Arsenal colors. Jota’s goal, which came only 22 seconds after he took to the pitch alongside Kostas Tsimikas, leveled the score at 1-1 against Nottingham Forest, who had taken an early lead thanks to Chris Wood’s eighth-minute opener.

 

 

 

Wood’s goal sparked jubilant celebrations in the stands, as Forest fans reveled in their team’s positivity amid Liverpool’s challenges to unlock a well-organised backline. The Reds struggled mightily to register a shot on target until the 60th minute, giving rise to thoughts that Nuno Espírito Santo’s charges could repel the Merseyside giants and secure a league double after their 1-0 victory earlier in the season at Anfield.

 

 

 

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However, the script flipped dramatically when Jota, left unmarked during a corner, nodded home the equaliser. Despite a late rally from Jurgen Klopp’s side, Arne Slot’s men held firm for a point, courtesy of Ola Aina’s vital goal-line clearance in the dying moments, keeping Forest within six points of the Premier League summit. Nonetheless, the focus quickly shifted to the integrity of Liverpool’s equaliser, ignited by observations from former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett.

 

 

 

Videos circulating on social media have incited outrage among Gunners supporters, who were eager for their team to close the gap on Liverpool. The footage captured Cody Gakpo appearing to back into goalkeeper Matz Sels just before Jota’s powerful header found the net—a maneuver that some argue obstructed Sels’ opportunity to play the ball, which in other scenarios has seen goals annulled by VAR.

 

 

 

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While rival fans debated why such an incident was not reviewed, Hackett provided insight into the situation, expressing skepticism over the fairness of such tactics but maintaining that VAR intervention was improbable. Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett stated:

 

 

 

“Clearly one of the dark arts currently in football is how attacking teams are positioning one of their forwards on the goalkeeper. You will appreciate no one owns any space on a football field. Given these tactics, I would have thought that goalkeeping coaches might have found a way to combat and to deal with what I consider an unfair tactic. Looking at replays, there is no way that VAR would intervene. The goalkeeper should have made a stronger play for the ball; good goal.”

 

 

 

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The outcome at The City Ground leaves Liverpool and Nottingham Forest sharing the spoils, with Arne Slot’s team remaining six points ahead at the Premier League top. As Arsenal prepares to clash with Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, they will undoubtedly keep a watchful eye on their title rivals, hoping for a shift in fortune.

 

 

 

Premier League Standings

 

 

 

 

 

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Diogo Jota’s goal vs Nottingham Forest

 

Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota came off the bench in the 65th minute last night to combine with their first touches and produce Liverpool’s equaliser inside 22 seconds of their subsitutions as the Premier League leaders drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest. But new footage of the goal’s buildup has sparked controversy over its legitimacy.

 

 

 

Chris Wood had opened the scoring within eight minutes against the run of play, celebrating to the chorus of an enraptured City Ground. Liverpool, meanwhile, struggled to breach Forest’s defence at the other end, only managing their first shot on target in the 60th minute. It seemed as though Nuno Espírito Santo’s team might complete a league double over their old rivals after a 1-0 win at Anfield at the start of the season.

 

 

 

The script changed when Jota, left unmarked from a corner, nodded in the equaliser. Despite a late surge from the visitors, though, Arne Slot’s men were forced to settle for a point on the road, as Ola Aina’s crucial goal-line clearance in the dying moments ensured Forest remained within six points of the top of the table. But was Liverpool’s equalizer valid? Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett has weighed in on the debate.

 

 

 

Keith Hackett Issues ‘Dark Arts’ Verdict On Liverpool Equaliser

 

Cody Gakpo could be seen blocking the goalkeeper in the buildup

 

Diogo Jota

 

Footage shared on social media after the match has ignited outrage among Arsenal fans, who were hoping to see their team close the gap on Liverpool. The video shows Cody Gakpo seemingly backing into goalkeeper Matz Sels just before Jota headed the equaliser past him. This action seemed to impede the goalkeeper from reaching the ball, a scenario that has previously led to goals being disallowed. Watch the clip below:

 

 

 

While rival fans speculated about why the incident wasn’t reviewed, former referee Keith Hackett believes there was never a realistic chance of intervention, even though he remains skeptical about the fairness of the tactic. Speaking to Football Insider about Liverpool’s equaliser, Hackett remarked:

 

 

 

“Clearly one of the dark arts currently in football is how attacking teams are positioning one of their forwards on the goalkeeper.

 

 

 

“You will appreciate no one owns any space on a football field. Given these tactics I would have thought that goalkeeping coaches might have found a way to combat and to deal with what I consider an unfair tactic.

 

 

 

“Looking at replays there is no way that VAR would intervene. The goalkeeper should have made a stronger play for the ball, good goal.”

 

 

 

Jota’s goal was enough to ensure that Liverpool and Nottingham Forest would share the points at The City Ground. Arne Slot’s side, therefore, remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League table as things stand, with Arsenal set to play Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.