Iraola Seeks Explanation for Substitution Delay Before Forest Penalty

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola called for an explanation after a delayed attempt to make three substitutions preceded Nottingham Forest's second goal in Saturday's 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield. BBC Sport reported that Liverpool had been trying to introduce Ryan Gravenberch, Kostas Tsimikas and Rio Ngumoha while the match was level at 1-1.

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The players remained on the touchline despite the ball going out of play three times, according to the BBC report, as fourth official Tim Robinson experienced problems with the electronic board. When the ball went out for the third time, Forest restarted quickly rather than waiting for the changes, setting in motion the attack that produced the penalty.

Forest substitute Liam Delap took the throw-in and Neco Williams moved into Liverpool's penalty area. Goalkeeper Alisson was adjudged to have brought Williams down as the defender tried to direct an effort toward goal. Morgan Gibbs-White converted from 12 yards to restore Forest's lead, leaving Iraola particularly frustrated by the sequence before the decision.

Iraola told TNT Sports that the preparation of the boards had taken about three minutes and said officials would need to explain the delay. He did not dispute the penalty in those comments, focusing instead on why Liverpool had been unable to complete their changes at earlier stoppages. The substitutions were subsequently made as Liverpool again pursued an equaliser.

Forest had first gone ahead through Dan Ndoye before Alexander Isak levelled on the hour with his first goal of the season. Victor Munoz then rescued Liverpool for the second time in the match after Gibbs-White's penalty, scoring with eight minutes remaining. Liverpool's official match report said the goal was Munoz's first for the club and came on his full home debut.

The draw followed Liverpool's 2-2 result at Newcastle on the opening weekend. Iraola told TNT Sports that his team had been poor in the first half but far more intense and threatening after the break, while acknowledging that the improvement came too late to win. Liverpool's next scheduled Premier League match is away to newly promoted Ipswich Town on Friday night.