Revealed: Why Darwin Nunez's winning goal for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest should've been ruled out as furious Mark Clattenburg goes mad at PGMOL in new ref analyst role

Nunez scored in the 99th minute to give the Reds a vital 1-0 win, and Clattenburg, who is working as Forest's refereeing consultant, felt the decision was wrong. Paul Tierney, the referee in charge, had stopped play for an Ibrahima Konate head injury, while Forest were in possession.

When the game restarted, though, Tierney told Liverpool to play on, instead of kicking it back to Forest. Nunez scored at the end of the move, to the chagrin of the former referee.

Per the Daily Mirror, he said: “As a club, Forest feel there have been one or two decisions that have gone against them -NewcastleUnited,West Ham- decisions that the PGMOL have accepted that there has been a mistake and today was another example where the law is quite clear.

“If the referee is to stop the game for a head injury if he feels there is one. He’s rightly allowed to stop it. However, the ball has to go back to the team that has possession. And Nottingham Forest clearly had that possession.

“He did exactly the same in the first half however it was a different situation. The ball was closer to the penalty area and the Nottingham Forest was towards the corner flag. Nottingham Forest should have had the ball back. Instead, Liverpool have gone upfield and scored from it.”

The result is a major one at both ends of the table. Liverpool have returned to the top of the league, while Forest are now 17th, four points clear of the drop zone. It is little surprise, then, that they are fuming about the decision, with Steven Reid, a coach for Forest, sent off after full-time for confronting Tierney.

Forest are next in action against Brighton next weekend. Liverpool, by comparison, play Sparta Prague in the Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday before playing Manchester City in a huge encounter at the top of the league.