Mac Allister at the Eye of a VAR Storm as Liverpool Nick It at Forest
Well then, what a barnstormer at the City Ground. Alexis Mac Allister rode the emotional rollercoaster like a seasoned pro, having one effort ruled out in stoppage time before burying the winner moments later as Liverpool pinched the points against Nottingham Forest. Late drama? This was pure chaos, with VAR at the heart of it.
VAR chaos in stoppage time
First, the disbelief. Ola Aina leathered a clearance that cannoned off Mac Allister and nestled in the Forest net, only for the officials to spot it had clipped the Argentine’s elbow on the way through. Under today’s framework, that’s a non-starter: if the ball strikes an attacker’s arm and goes straight in, it’s disallowed. No grey area, no benefit of the doubt.
Then came the release. Deep into the 97th minute, Mac Allister arrived where it hurt to finish from close range. A potential offside against Virgil van Dijk in the build-up sparked another long check, but after the forensic look the flag stayed down and the goal stood. Forest fumed, Liverpool roared, and the scoreboard told the tale.
Hackett tears into the handball law
Keith Hackett, the former PGMOL head and a man who’s seen every wrinkle in the rule book, wasn’t shy about the earlier handball call. He acknowledged the officials had applied the law correctly—if it hits the arm and leads straight to a goal, it’s out—but he bristled at the very premise of that statute, arguing it jars with football common sense.
In his eyes, the villain isn’t the referee or VAR—it’s a handball law that bans accidental goals off an arm even when there’s no intent or advantage gained. Hackett reckons the technology is exposing a law that’s too rigid, too clinical, and out of step with the rhythm of the game.
Forest’s fire under Pereira, Slot’s Reds grind it out
Credit to Forest: under Vitor Pereira—taking charge in his first league outing—they were snappy, organised, and full of running. The City Ground had its usual bite, and for long spells Arne Slot’s Liverpool couldn’t quite impose their usual fluency. But the mark of a top side is winning when you’re not purring, and Liverpool dug in, rode the storm, and found a way.
What it means for Liverpool
Beyond the drama, this is a huge strike in the scrap for Champions League places. With rivals slipping elsewhere, Liverpool simply had to make hay—and they did, just about. Mac Allister, who’d taken a bit of stick for his display, ended up the match-winner and the man of the moment. Funny old game, isn’t it?
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