Hackett: Liverpool used ‘unfair tactic’ in VAR incident vs Nottingham Forest

Keith Hackett has stated that VAR would never have disallowed Diogo Jota’s equalizer for Liverpool in their Premier League match against Nottingham Forest.

After Cody Gakpo obstructed Matz Sels in the lead-up to that goal, the former PGMOL chief and former FIFA official said goalkeeping coaches need to figure out how to handle pressure from attacking players.
However, Liverpool would tie the score halfway through the second half, and Hackett has since denied that VAR would have disallowed the goal.

Arne Slot’s had found themselves 1-0 down at half-time in that match at the City Ground on Tuesday (14 January), after Chris Wood opened the scoring early in the game to continue his fine form this season.

Keith Hackett issues ‘dark arts’ verdict on Liverpool equaliser at Nottingham Forest

Arne Slot made a double substitute with 66 minutes remaining, adding Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimakas to the game.

Liverpool promptly benefited from that, as the Portugal international headed in the latter’s corner as play resumed.
Then, replays revealed that Cody Gakpo had backed into Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels as the corner was launched into the box, preventing him from fully contacting the ball in an attempt to clear it.

Though Slot had been frustrated with the officials earlier in the game, there was no need for him to be here with the goal allowed to stand, and Hackett believes that was no chance of that happening even if he is unconvinced about how fair the tactic is.

Speaking to Football Insider about the Liverpool equaliser, the former referee said:

“Clearly one of the dark arts currently in football is how attacking teams are positioning one of their forwards on the goalkeeper. You will appreciate no one owns any space on a football field.

“Given these tactics I would have thought that goalkeeping coaches might have found a way to combat and to deal with what I consider an unfair tactic.

“Looking at replays there is no way that VAR would intervene. The goalkeeper should have made a stronger play for the ball, good goal.”

That goal was enough to ensure that Liverpool and Nottingham Forest would share the points at The City Ground.

Arne Slot’s side therefore remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League table as things stand.