Jamie Carragher calls out Mohamed Salah and Liverpool teammate to make Rio Ngumoha point

Jamie Carragher branded Liverpool's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest 'one of the biggest robberies' in the Premier League this season, lambasting Mohamed Salah's performance in the process

Jamie Carragher has branded Liverpool's victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday as "one of the biggest robberies" he has seen in the Premier League this season as he heaped praise on Rio Ngumoha. The Reds edged to a 1-0 win at the City Ground courtesy of a late strike from Alexis Mac Allister.

Yet Carragher was far from convinced by what he saw from his former club on the day; a largely uninspiring display against a struggling Premier League team. Speaking on Sky Sports at full-time, the 48-year-old said: "That's one of the biggest robberies I've seen in the Premier League this season."

The pundit also took particular issue with the performances of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo. Normally a potent force in and around the box, Liverpool mustered just 10 shots throughout the entire match, only four of which hitting the target.

For context, Forest managed two shots on target from a total of 18, posing a considerably greater threat than the Reds throughout the contest. The hosts also enjoyed 47 per cent of the possession to Liverpool's 53 per cent, more than holding their own for lengthy spells.

Carragher further suggested that Salah and Gakpo were partly to blame for the lack of creative spark, arguing that 17-year-old Ngumoha did 'more in the 15 minutes' he was on the pitch than his far more experienced team-mates. He added: "Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that. He changed the game and needs to be starting games. There's no-one better in getting last-minute winners in Premier League - and that is Liverpool."

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The Premier League clash looked destined to end in a goalless draw until its final moments, when Mac Allister believed he had handed his side the advantage. Ngumoha delivered the ball into the centre of the box from the right, with Hugo Ekitike nodding goalward from close range.

While Stefan Ortega was equal to his effort, he could only parry the ball a few feet from his goal rather than tip it over or wide. Consequently, Ola Aina was left to attempt to clear the ball from a perilous position, with Mac Allister blocking his effort as the ball deflected off him and into the back of the net.

The celebrations in the away end were incredibly brief, however, as VAR swiftly intervened. After a moment of scrutinising the footage, officials ruled that the ball had in fact struck the arm of Mac Allister, disallowing the goal.

Clarifying the ruling on X, the Premier League Match Centre wrote: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Liverpool. Referee announcement: 'After review, the ball hits the arm of the goalscorer, Liverpool No. 10. Therefore, it's an accidental handball by the goal scorer, so the final decision is a direct free kick.'"

Mac Allister did, however, grab his goal deep into stoppage time, once again proving to be in the right place at the right time to slot the ball into the back of the net. In the 97th minute, Dominik Szoboszlai picked out Virgil van Dijk at the back post, with Ortega once again equal to the header.

Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, the goalkeeper again spilled the ball into his own six-yard box, with Mac Allister pouncing on it and driving it home. While VAR once again scrutinised the passage of play to determine whether Van Dijk had been in an offside position prior to his header, officials swiftly ruled that Aina was playing the Dutchman onside, allowing the goal to stand.

Speaking after the final whistle, Mac Allister admitted he was delighted to have netted the winner, but remained unconvinced by his side's overall display. He said: "Mixed feelings to be honest. Love scoring, love winning. In that sense it's a really good day. But I don't think we played very well. There are things we need to improve, but it's always nicer when we win."

Reflecting on his disallowed goal, he continued: "It did [hit my arm], but it's harsh. Because it hit my back as well. I understand the rules but it's football, it's very harsh."

Discussing his match-winning strike, he said: "I knew I would get another one. Before the throw-in, I told Hugo it would be our situation. But I had another opportunity and I am glad it went in."

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