Premier League Match Centre issue TWO statements after Liverpool vs Forest controversy

The Premier League has explained why Murillo's goal for Nottingham Forest against Liverpool was allowed to stand - two weeks after a similar incident went the other way. The Forest defender put his side 1-0 up at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday from a corner.

The goal was controversial, though, with Liverpool's players believing that Forest forward Dan Ndoye was in an offside position and was interfering with goalkeeper Alisson Becker's ability to stop the shot.

However, the Premier League Match Centre wrote: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Ndoye was not in the line of vision of Allison and did not make an action that impacted an opponent."

It is a hot topic at Anfield after Virgil van Dijk saw his goal ruled out for Andy Robertson being offside in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City before the international break. Van Dijk's header from a corner would have brought Liverpool level - and the club ended up writing to the PGMOL to make their complaints clear on the issue.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "If you follow the mantra of last time when Robertson ducked out the way of the ball [against Man City], and here the ball goes through the legs of the player in front of Alisson. Why did that go against us last week and the opposite against us this week?"

There was yet more controversy minutes later when Forest thought they had gone 2-0 up. Igor Jesus fired a second goal past Alisson after Ibrahima Konate failed to clear, only for VAR to rule his effort out for handball.

The Premier League Match Centre said: "The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Jesus accidentally handled the ball before scoring." It was deemed that the ball hit the Forest striker's bicep area.

That call didn't go down well with the pundits. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on 5 Live: "You couldn't see the freeze of where it struck Igor Jesus' arm but it looked like it hit him on the sleeve."

Ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams said on Final Score: "I'm seeing two angles of the goal and on neither angle can I see the where it touches the arm at all. It his Jesus between the chest and the stomach. That goal should stand."

Keown added: "It looks like the ball came up and hit Jesus on his ribcage. Surely VAR have seen something to chalk it off. I can't see the hand."

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