Aldridge labels Forest VAR call \u201ccorruption\u201d despite Liverpool\u2019s late victory<\/p>\n
Liverpool\u2019s dramatic 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest sparked relief at the final whistle, but John Aldridge was still talking about the officiating long after Alexis Mac Allister\u2019s stoppage-time winner.<\/p>\n
The former Liverpool striker followed the match in real time and posted a series of reactions online, focusing mainly on the disallowed Mac Allister goal for handball which arrived shortly before the eventual 97th-minute winner.<\/p>\n
Even though we ultimately took all three points, Aldridge made it clear he felt the earlier decision crossed a line.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s one of the most corrupt decisions I\u2019ve seen in my 67 years on this earth! Absolute joke. (Photo by Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Aldridge\u2019s frustration started at half-time when the performance itself was poor and he acknowledged it openly.<\/p>\n \u201cWell that wasn\u2019t good on the eye! In fact I\u2019m shocked at what I was watching, please don\u2019t use injuries as an excuse!<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m delighted it\u2019s 0-0 at ht but Arne\u2019s team talk is just the hairdryer treatment folks.\u201d<\/strong> (John Aldridge on X<\/a>)<\/p>\n Liverpool had struggled to keep the ball, Florian Wirtz had pulled out in the warm-up, Curtis Jones had been drafted in late, and Dominik Szoboszlai was even asked to cover right-back before Arne Slot reshuffled again.<\/p>\n The moment that truly angered the 67-year-old though came when Mac Allister\u2019s initial goal was ruled out after the ball brushed the Argentina international\u2019s arm from close range.<\/p>\n Mac Allister himself later admitted<\/a> frustration with the ruling:\u00a0\u201cIt hit my back and my elbow. I understand the rule but if you understand football, that goal should have stood.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Aldridge doubled down after the final whistle<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cWe didn\u2019t deserve the win but after that awful decision \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 Justice was done folks! YNWA.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n (Photo by Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n The Liverpool legend even attempted to identify the match officials<\/a> after the game, linking the call to previous frustrations:\u00a0\u201cCan someone let me know who was the VAR assistants for our game today folks!<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThey need calling out,that decision in football terms is a total disgrace! Yes, I said corrupt and I\u2019ll stand by that, every ex-player would be shocked at that being disallowed!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He later added<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cVAR Tierney! Say no more folks.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Questions of Paul Tierney\u2019s officiating have surfaced before around Liverpool matches, with pundits previously questioning decisions<\/a> involving the same official, and Aldridge\u2019s reaction shows how little trust remains among many former players when subjective handball rulings are involved.<\/p>\n In truth, Liverpool did not play well for large parts of the afternoon, Forest had 12 first-half shots, and we survived long periods inside our own box, but football often turns on fine margins.<\/p>\n Mac Allister\u2019s disallowed effort became an argument about officiating, while his stoppage-time winner became an argument about resilience.<\/p>\n Aldridge ended up accepting both realities at once: the performance was below standard, yet the late goal still felt deserved in a different way after the earlier controversy.<\/p>\n DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES \u2013 STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON\u00a0APPLE<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0GOOGLE PLAY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOk, we didn\u2019t deserve it but a disgrace to football!\u201d<\/strong> (John Aldridge on X<\/a>)<\/p>\nAldridge reacts to Liverpool VAR controversy<\/h2>\n
VAR official becomes talking point<\/h2>\n