Andoni Iraola said he was angry after Liverpool were forced to wait to make a triple substitution during their 2-2 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
With the score at 1-1 in the second half, Liverpool had signalled their intention to introduce Ryan Gravenberch, Kostas Tsimikas and Rio Ngumoha. However, the changes were not made despite the ball going out of play three times.
Fourth official Tim Robinson was reportedly experiencing difficulties with the electronic substitution board, leaving the three players waiting on the touchline.
When the ball went out for the third time, Liverpool expected play to be stopped so the changes could take place. Instead, Nottingham Forest restarted quickly with a throw-in and soon regained the lead after being awarded a penalty.
Forest wing-back Neco Williams ran behind the Liverpool defence and was challenged by goalkeeper Alisson as he attempted to lift the ball towards goal. The effort went wide, but referee Samuel Barrott then stopped play and pointed to the penalty spot.
Iraola questioned the decision to award the penalty but said his greater frustration was related to the delay over the substitutions.
“With the penalty, the situation has already finished when the contact appears. And it’s not an aggressive contact,” Iraola told BBC Match of the Day.
“But more than this, we complained about the subs. We had to wait about three minutes.
“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, but everything helps.”
The Liverpool boss was also critical of the length of time it took to process the changes when speaking to TNT Sports.
“A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes. We’d already given him the subs two or three minutes before.
“I was already angry because in the previous stoppage we couldn’t make the subs and then before throw-in I thought we could do it.
“I don’t know, they will have to explain it. But it has taken ages.”
Gerrard and Warnock criticise delay
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said the penalty decision itself was not one over which Liverpool could reasonably complain, although he understood Iraola’s frustration at the substitution delay.
“You can understand the frustration – in this day and age, with all the technology, it can’t be taking three minutes to make a triple substitution,” Gerrard told TNT Sports.
“But I think it’s a small problem in the overall problem because it’s a goal that can be avoided.”
Former Liverpool and England full-back Stephen Warnock also criticised the handling of the substitutions, saying the changes should have brought the game to a halt.
“Andoni Iraola wanted to make a triple change and the assistant referee hasn’t got the thing done,” Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It would’ve completely stopped the play. It’s appalling from the fourth official.”
Liverpool eventually rescued a point when Victor Munoz scored his first goal for the club with eight minutes remaining. The late equaliser ensured the match finished 2-2, after Forest had twice held the lead at Anfield.
