Andoni Iraola fumed over a technology blunder in the moments before Liverpool conceded a penalty against Nottingham Forest after being made to wait multiple minutes to make a triple substitution.
Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Forest in Iraola’s first Anfield outing in charge, required to come from behind twice against Oliver Glasner’s men to salvage a point.
Alexander Isak cancelled out Dan Ndoye’s opener on the hour mark, but the Reds fell behind again 10 minutes later when Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the spot.
Iraola was asked after the match about the penalty incident, which saw Alisson take out Neco Williams who had darted into the area from a quick Liam Delap throw.
However, the Spaniard chose to focus on the events on the touchline that preceded the penalty, which saw fourth official Tim Robinson take a lengthy period of time to get his substitution board ready for a triple Liverpool replacement.
“I will analyse the penalty, but a professional fourth official cannot take three minutes [to make subs],” the Liverpool manager told TNT Sports. “We’ve already given the subs like two or three minutes before.
“I was already angry because in the previous stop [in play], we couldn’t make it. And before the throw-in [which Forest got the penalty from], I said, ‘Okay, we’ll do now’.
“I don’t know. They will have to explain it, but it has taken ages to prepare the subs.”
Speaking to BBC Sport, Iraola added: “He was having an issue with the board, I don’t know if it was not working, but we definitely wanted to do the subs the last two or three stoppages before the goal. It wasn’t just that reason [for the penalty] but everything helps.”
Liverpool eventually made the changes after Gibbs-White scored his spot-kick, with Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Rio Ngumha all coming on to replace Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Cody Gakpo.
The Reds clawed the game back for a draw through new signing Victor Munoz who rifled home in the 82nd minute.
Liverpool’s next match will be away to Ipswich Town on Friday 4 September.
