Alisson (foto: Getty Images)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson kicked a hole in a fourth official's substitution board after a chaotic 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest that left Andoni Iraola furious.
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Alisson produced an extraordinary reaction after Liverpool's controversial 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield, kicking a fourth official's substitution board so hard that he left a hole in the equipment.
The Brazilian goalkeeper was still furious after the final whistle following a chaotic sequence that contributed to Forest taking a 2-1 lead. Alisson had already been booked for protesting the penalty awarded to the visitors before apparently taking his frustration out on the board while heading towards the tunnel.
Footage showed Alisson delivering a powerful kick to the equipment, while an image of the damaged board lying beside the pitch later circulated after the match.
Liverpool furious over substitution delay
The controversy began when Liverpool were attempting to make a triple substitution. Fourth official Tim Robinson was not ready with the boards, and the changes were delayed. Forest then took a quick throw-in and caught Liverpool unprepared, with the attack ending when Alisson rushed from his goal and brought down Neco Williams.
Morgan Gibbs-White converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-1, prompting furious protests from Liverpool's players and bench. Alisson was booked, while manager Andoni Iraola confronted Robinson over the delay.
" A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes for the subs. We gave the subs two or three minutes before," Iraola told TNT Sports. " Before the throw-in, I said, 'Let's do it now', but I don't know how to explain it – it has taken ages to prepare two boards."
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey later argued that the penalty itself was correctly awarded because Alisson clearly made contact with Williams. However, he raised another potential issue with the move that led to it.
Halsey questioned whether the preceding Forest throw-in had been taken correctly, suggesting Liam Delap may have had one foot off the ground. He admitted the footage was not conclusive but described it as a significant talking point.
Victor Munoz eventually rescued Liverpool with a late equaliser, preventing Forest from leaving Anfield with all three points. However, the 2-2 result means Iraola is still searching for his first Premier League victory as Liverpool manager after another 2-2 draw against Newcastle on the opening weekend.
For Liverpool, though, the lasting image of another frustrating afternoon was Alisson's reaction after the final whistle – one vicious kick and a substitution board with a hole in it.