Paul Tierney dropped due to Liverpool controversy as Premier League clanger has consequences

Referee Paul Tierney has been removed from Premier League duties this weekend, following a controversial decision in Liverpool's game against Nottingham Forest.

He gave the ball back to Liverpool improperly after a stop for a head injury near the end of the match. This led to the Reds scoring the winning goal through Darwin Nunez's header, getting three important points and causing annoyance amongst the Forest team. Even though he won't be refereeing this weekend, Paul Tierney will be the VAR in the Arsenal vs Brentford match set for Saturday, which is vital for the title race.

The game was paused when Caoimhin Kelleher collided with Ibrahima Konate while taking a cross. At the time, Callum Hudson-Odoi had the ball on the wing. But instead of giving it back to Forest, Tierney gave Liverpool an uncontested drop-ball. A few minutes later, Nunez turned in Alexis Mac Allister's cross, making Forest upset that their moment got cut short by Tierney.

Forest's referee analyst Mark Clattenburg said: "As a club, Forest feel there have been one or two decisions that have gone against them - Newcastle United, West Ham - decisions that the PGMOL have accepted that there has been a mistake.

"If the referee is to stop the game for a head injury if he feels there is one. He's rightly allowed to stop it. However, the ball has to go back to the team that has possession. And Nottingham Forest clearly had that possession.

"He did exactly the same in the first half however it was a different situation. The ball was closer to the penalty area and the Nottingham Forest was towards the corner flag. Nottingham Forest should have had the ball back. Instead, Liverpool have gone upfield and scored from it."