The fallout from Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, February 22, 2026, continues to dominate headlines, but the real talking point remains the 89th-minute “goal” by Alexis Mac Allister that was controversially chalked off by VAR.
During post-match analysis on Sky Sports, former referee Dermot Gallagher provided a detailed breakdown of the incident. He explained that the ball deflected off Mac Allister’s elbow (below the sleeve line) in an accidental manner during a clearance attempt by Forest’s Ola Aina. Under current Premier League handball rules, when the ball strikes an attacker’s arm and directly leads to a goal, it is disallowed regardless of intent. Gallagher stated that referee Anthony Taylor initially awarded the goal correctly in real time, but VAR Paul Tierney intervened because the handball was deemed clear enough to meet the “clear and obvious” threshold for overturning the on-field decision. He added that the law is strict in these direct-scoring scenarios to prevent any unfair advantage, even accidental ones.
Jamie Carragher, however, took a sharply different view. The Liverpool legend did not mince words, openly challenging the consistency of the application. Carragher pointed out that similar accidental deflections off the arm in the buildup to goals have been allowed to stand in multiple matches this season, particularly when the contact was deemed natural or incidental without gaining clear advantage. He questioned why this instance was treated differently, suggesting the interpretation felt selective and that Liverpool have repeatedly been on the wrong side of such tight calls. “We’ve seen these go both ways all year,” Carragher said. “If that’s handball every time, fine—but apply it the same for everyone. Right now, it looks like the rules bend depending on who’s benefiting.”
The exchange sent social media into overdrive. Liverpool supporters seized on Carragher’s comments as validation of long-held grievances over inconsistent VAR decisions, especially at key moments. Posts flooded in with clips of other games where comparable incidents were not overturned, accompanied by captions like “Carragher just confirmed what we’ve been saying” and “Different rules for different teams.” Neutrals and rival fans joined the debate, some agreeing the application appears uneven, while others defended the strict letter-of-the-law approach.
The controversy gained extra weight because Mac Allister went on to score the actual winner in the 97th minute, turning a potential two dropped points into three crucial ones in Liverpool’s top-four (or title) push. Manager Arne Slot acknowledged the frustration but focused on the resilience shown by his side.
The Sky Sports segment has amplified calls for greater transparency from PGMOL and clearer guidance on handball thresholds. With Howard Webb’s ongoing internal reviews and increasing scrutiny on officiating standards this season, Carragher’s blunt assessment has ensured the Mac Allister incident remains a flashpoint far beyond the final whistle at the City Ground
