VAR Controversy: How Murillo's Strike Beat Liverpool While van Dijk Escaped Similar Fate
Liverpool's Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest was bound to include some offside drama—and it certainly materialized when Murillo's 33rd-minute goal was permitted despite bearing resemblance to Virgil van Dijk's ruled-out strike against Manchester City.
Van Dijk's header at the Etihad was disallowed after both the linesman and VAR concluded that Andy Robertson was obstructing Gianluigi Donnarumma's ability to save the ball. If that goal had counted, Liverpool would have equalized at 1–1, but instead they endured a crushing 3–0 defeat.
Two weeks on, Liverpool found themselves on the wrong end of a controversial goal flying into their net. A Forest set piece ricocheted around the penalty area as the reigning Premier League champions struggled to clear, with the increasingly impressive Murillo spinning to unleash a powerful low drive inside Alisson's near post.
The dispute centered on Forest winger Dan Ndoye's position, who was stationed directly in the middle of the six-yard area and close to Alisson. Liverpool predictably protested his involvement in the goal, despite the Brazilian keeper remaining stationary as the ball whizzed past him, with Ndoye appearing to simply turn his body rather than making any deliberate movement toward the ball.
The Premier League's official match center supported this interpretation via social media, declaring that Ndoye was not blocking Alisson's sight line and made no action affecting an opponent.
Additional Controversy Results in Second Forest Goal Being Disallowed
While that ruling went against Liverpool, another decision two minutes later favored them when Forest forward Igor Jesus was ruled to have used his hand before rolling a shot beyond Alisson—who once again remained planted as the ball went by him.
Video replays were unclear, showing no definitive proof of the ball hitting below Jesus's sleeve—the unofficial benchmark many use when determining handball violations—yet on-field official Andy Madley was directed to cancel the goal.
Nevertheless, Forest weren't finished with their scoring at Anfield, shocking the home crowd by taking a 2–0 lead in the second period through Nicolò Savona.
Liverpool's Premier League title defense? Looking shaky.