Darwin award winner

CONTROVERSY-HIT SMASH AND GRAB FROM NUNEZ KEEPS KLOPP ON TRACK

DARWIN NUNEZ sparked chaos with a last-gasp winner that left the City Ground in uproar at ref Paul Tierney.

The Uruguayan flicked home a header deep in stoppage time to spark jubilation as Jurgen Klopp’s perfect week ended on a high.

Nunez, on a late sub, stole the wrong side of Forest’s rearguard as he glanced Alexis Mac Allister’s cross beyond keeper Matz Sels.

It was the last action in a game that appeared destined to end in stalemate with neither side capable of landing the killer blow.

But that only partly explains the story as Tierney found himself in hot water with home fans, players and the staff of Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

The action swung from end to end during injury time as both teams sought a winner.

But Tierney caused himself a problem after stopping play when Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate went down holding his head while defending a corner. Forest still had possession on the left with Callum Hudson-odoi and were looking to pump the ball into the penalty area.

Tierney called a halt but then restarted play giving the ball to away keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

It did appear that there was a conversation between the Irish keeper, skipper Virgil van Dijk and Tierney – but whether that covered passing the ball back to Forest is unclear.

Liverpool promptly poured forward in search of a goal, which duly came when Forest couldn’t clear a corner.

They twice had chances to hoof the ball upfield but squandered them and it was a lovely cross from Mac Allister for Nunez.

He outjumped Neco Williams and gave Liverpool a massive boost in their title quest when Tierney blew just seconds later.

But that kicked off a chorus of boos from the stands as Forest’s fans made their feelings known at the perception that they had been undone by the referee.

Not only did Tierney leave the pitch with chants of ‘One-nil to the referee’ ringing in his ears, he was also flanked by Forest’s staff who gave him an escort from the pitch asking why play had not restarted with possession to them.

Assistant Steven Reid made his feelings clear and was redcarded for his troubles (left) as Klopp and his players celebrated on the pitch.

It had looked as if the winners from this would be elsewhere. In Manchester or North London. While those at the foot of the table would have been happy another home game at the City Ground had passed by without Forest grabbing a win.

The hosts had the better of the chances against a Liverpool side that was markedly below its best.

The headlines should have been grabbed by Sels who produced a magnificent stop to prevent an own goal moments earlier when a corner was diverted goalwards by the otherwise superb Murillo.

But seconds later, Tierney intervened. As Nunez reaped an incredible reward for Klopp.