Iraola angry as official's board delays subs before goal

What the report says

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola criticised the match officials after Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield, saying his team were delayed in trying to make a triple substitution during the second half. According to BBC Sport’s report, Liverpool wanted to send on Ryan Gravenberch, Kostas Tsimikas and Rio Ngumoha while the score was 1-1, but the change was held up because fourth official Tim Robinson had trouble with the substitution board.

BBC Sport said the delay continued across several stoppages, and on the third occasion Forest restarted quickly with a throw-in instead of waiting for the changes to be completed. That sequence led to Forest winning a penalty and going back in front, adding to Liverpool’s frustration. Iraola told BBC Match of the Day and TNT Sports that the hold-up should not have taken so long and said the team had already signalled the substitutions before the decisive moment.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and ex-defender Stephen Warnock also commented in BBC’s coverage, with both agreeing the substitutions should have been handled more quickly. Liverpool later equalised through Victor Munoz, who scored his first goal for the club with eight minutes left. The result left Liverpool with a point, while the episode drew attention to how administrative delays can affect the flow of a Premier League match.